Sofia ran as fast as her little legs could carry her away from all the people. All the people that were staring at her, concerned about her, worried about her. She appreciated it, but she didn't want it! She wanted to be alone! She reached her room and slammed her door. Without thinking she went to grab her practice wand and locked her door with it. Nobody was going to see her until she felt ready!
The young girl fell onto her bed and sobbed heavily into her pillow. Small hands gripped the pillow with all their might, squeezing so tight the threads might just break. She noticed that her head was hurting where her tiara rests. She didn't take it off. Quickly, it was pulled from her head and thrown across the room. She didn't want to be a princess anymore! Not without him! Now... Now who is she going to go to when... when her sorcery is confusing? Or even when she just needs to talk?! Cedric was there for everything she needed! And now he's gone!
All the emotions inside of her was becoming too much, and she let out, what would've been a soul crushing scream, into her pillow. It didn't help. Why didn't it help? She started kicking her legs on her bed. Why?! Why did he have to do... Whatever he was doing?! Was it dangerous? Why would he do something so dangerous knowing how much she cared about him?! Did he not care about her? Is that why he took this risk? Another stronger bout of tears came into her eyes.
"Sofia?" Her mom's soft voice came from the other side of the door. "Sofia, may I come in?" The young girl didn't answer her, instead just kept crying as if she didn't hear anything. The door handle creaked as her mom tried to open it. Of coarse it didn't budge. Ced... Cedric had taught her that spell. Her mother sighed.
"Sofia, I told you about magically locking your door... But given what... What has just... If you need... Anything dear... You know where I'll be." Miranda told her daughter before slowly walking down the hall to go... Plan for Cedric's funeral... Hopefully Rolly already sent for his parents.
Sofia angrily looked toward her door. How dare she! She just lost her favorite person, and she tried to scold her for using magic?! Then she won't do magic again! Sofia picked up her wand and unlocked her door, then put it in the very bottom of her trunk. The young girls depression was turning to anger... Then back to depression... then numb... it was a rollercoaster.
"The only thing I want, mother, is C... Cedric... back, and you can't give me that." Silent tears rolled down her face like waterfalls onto the pillow she was clenching to her chest. She sat in her room crying, and occasionally screaming, all night, until she finally cried herself to sleep. Even then her dreams were filled with images of Cedric laying on the floor, and Wormwood nowhere around.
King Roland had just ordered the staff to clean up Cedric's lab and take Cedric down to the nurses, they could... make arrangements... for his... coffin. He, on the other hand, had to send for the sorcerer's parents. Something he had never thought that he'd have to do. Miranda went to go check on Sofia, leaving Roland alone for the time being. He called for a messenger, and told him to go get Cedric's parents and that it's urgent! The person clicked his heels and was off. The king let out a sigh, and fell into a chair that was in the hall. He rested his head in his hands, refusing to cry; a king does NOT cry. Clicking of heels on tile meant Miranda had returned. The clicks were slow and soft, not like her normal walk at all, but who could expect normal now? He looked up and saw her with her head down and fiddling with her hands. She looked up at him, tears swimming in her eyes.
"I'm... I'm worried Rolly. Sofia locked her door magically... and wouldn't talk to me at all. She's just a child... I can only imagine what she thinks of all this. Cedric was her favorite person, and now he was suddenly ripped from her. She... She didn't even get to say... Goodbye..." The queen fell at her husbands feet and cried into his lap. Not for the loss of a person, or that she never gave him a chance, but for her daughter. Her daughter that was probably so confused and unstable.
"Your... your highnesses... Princess Sofia dropped this... I'm terribly sorry for interrupting." The young man handed over the paper and walked away, probably back to cleaning Cedric's lair. Roland looked at the paper. He won't cry... He won't! but the words broke him. The damn broke and he cried and cried. He handed Miranda the paper and folded his arms on the arm of the chair and cried into them.
Miranda looked at the paper. "Sorcery test for Princess Sofia of Enchancia: Well Done! Perfect marks in all areas!" She couldn't help but smile a watery smile. Sofia loved magic. Then at the bottom she saw this "For Mr. Ceedric! I wouldn't have been able to do this well without you! You are an amazing teacher! I love you! And look forward to being as great of a sorcerer as you are one day!" Miranda covered her mouth as more tears threatened to spill. She blinked them away and got up.
"I-I'm going to give this to Sofia. I-I think... she'd want it... As a... memory..." She told her husband, and once more headed to her daughters room.
"Sofia I... I have your paper from your test... Do you want it?" She cautiously asked through the door leading to Sofia's room. No response came. Though she didn't expect one. "I'll just slide it under the door then..." She bent down and pushed the paper into the room. She waited to hear shuffling, walking, movement, anything! But nothing came except silence. For a mother, this was the worst silence she ever heard.