A/N: So sorry for the long wait. Life happened, a lot, and I didn't get anything published. I apologize.

I woke mid-morning. Cedric had risen just before dawn, and said he would tend to his brother, who was still unconscious. He had told me to sleep, which I did not think I could do, but waking proved it had been possible.

Lachlan was just rousing as I woke, and Cedric was helping him to sit up against the saddle. "Who?" I heard Lachlan say, then he muttered, "Oh, it's you." His hand went to his head, "What did you do to me?"

"It wasn't me," Cedric motioned with his head to the body not too far from us.

Lachlan squinted in that direction. "I don't remember what happened. Sofia?"

"I'm right here," I crawled over to him. Cedric had cleaned much of the blood from Lachlan's face.

"Thank goodness," Lachlan rubbed his temples. "If you weren't here then I knew Cedric would murder me. Although I think he's already tried."

"Murder would be too easy," Cedric muttered.

I put my hand on Lachlan's cheek to feel for a fever. "How is the pain?"

"If you cut my head off, I'm sure I wouldn't feel a thing," he grimaced.

"Do you have any healing potions, Cedric?"

My sorcerer was already rifling through his bag. "I do," he mumbled, "But it's going to make you very drowsy."

"I can ride and sleep."

Gritting my teeth, I shot Cedric a look, hoping the horse had come back.

"When I arrived," Cedric said, "there was no sign of a horse. Not sure if the other sorcerer scared it off while you were taking such good care of Sofia or-"

"Cedric!"

"I have been taking care of Sofia!" Lachlan grumbled. "You could have at least sent her another message through Ma! If I was her, I'd have given up on you weeks ago."

"Lachlan! Both of you, stop it!" I rubbed my forehead. "Cedric, give him the potion."

Both brothers scowled a little, but Cedric told Lachlan to hold out his tongue, then dropped two drops onto it. Lachlan swallowed, and within minutes his facial muscles were more relaxed. "Will that actually heal him?"

Cedric shrugged. "You don't want to heal too fast because there could be complications." He put the stopper back in the bottle, "But this will start the healing process and provide pain relief."

"Do you think it's safe to stay where we are for a while?"

"Was there only one sorcerer looking for Sofia?" Lachlan asked.

"Most likely. Most sorcerers are busy creating enchantments for the war, or healing potions. There aren't many that are not already occupied. Ian sent him, I'm guessing?"

I nodded, "That's what we think. Why did Ian want me found? What's been going on since I left?"

Cedric settled down next to Lachlan. "We probably should stay here another day, to rest and such. I could use it. Lachlan needs it." He sighed.

"You owe Sofia answers," Lachlan smiled drowsily. Cedric patted the ground next to him and I sat. He took my hand in his and we could not help but smile. "Oh, now I'm going to be really ill," Lachlan made a face. I laughed and Cedric rolled his eyes.

"So, the funeral. You left and Johnna went to your room, as you, and laid out your funeral clothing on your bed, and rumpled your bedclothes as if you had lay down for a while. A servant saw Johnna leave your room, so the plan worked. Well, for the most part. It was hours before it was discovered you were gone. The duke had gone to see you but could not find you. Ian was the only one who questioned what happened after the funeral. He had seen you, but he never saw Johnna go back to the castle, and for that reason he interrogated Johnna and me, several times, trying to get us to slip. We stuck to the story, but he didn't believe us."

"But Roland believed it?"

"Roland thought you'd been kidnapped at first, because Michael had just been killed, but then he seemed to come to terms with you running away. Johnna said it was impossible. She said you had been so looking forward to a wedding and that you wanted her there for that very reason. Johnna played her part well. She stayed on longer than she needed to, trying to investigate and find clues. The duke was the one who sent her home, fearing that she was putting herself in danger. Granted, I think he just didn't want to have to answer to her father if something happened to Johnna. And of course, Ian and Johnna were continuously butting heads."

"Why?" I asked.

"She said something to him about the blackmail and how she had made sure that if anything untoward happened to her, everyone would know that Ian had killed Michael and most likely killed you. Ian backed off a bit after that."

I clapped a hand over my laugh, feeling ashamed that Johnna's threateningly brilliance amused me. "And you, what did you do?"

"The duke asked me to make a spell to find you, and to consult runes and astrology and-"

Lachlan laughed heartily. "This is the duke that didn't like magic? He does understand that runes and astrology don't actually work, right?"

"He was desperate," Cedric smiled, "and yes, he is not one for magic. He gave me a kerchief from your room and asked if I could use it to find you. I gave it my best try, of course," Cedric rolled his eyes again, "but the kerchief told me nothing. "The runes, however, told me to look toward the palace."

"No! Roland knows I would never go back there!"

"Does he?" One of Cedric's eyebrows went up. "Well, about that time, the duke was very anxious about certain names that might end up in enemy hands. So, he organized a coup on the king, and he led it himself."

I gasped. "Was he caught?"

"Yes, I believe so. I guess I should back up a bit. Ian and Amber were married before that, and so the duke left Ian in charge. Also, Ian's father had a few men in on the coup. Several dukes and lords had men in the group, if they were not in it themselves. But Lord Ian had warned the king, so when Duke Roland and the others arrived at the palace, they were quickly arrested."

My heart stopped for just a moment, thinking about Roland in a dungeon, or being tortured. And then I remembered him threatening to put me in the dungeon, and what he had done. My care turned more into pity. I swallowed. "Is he alive?"

"Not sure, but I think so."

"So, Ian gave the king the list of names?"

"That is unclear. What is clear, is that Ian's father and many lords and dukes have had their titles and lands rescinded. King Stephan has promised the titles and lands to new men, if they will fight for him. It's brought a lot of devastation. There are even instances of younger sons of lords fighting their fathers for the chance to a title that would not normally be their birthright. Many soldiers have left their lords to fight for the king for the chance to rise."

"If I hadn't left, could this have been stopped?"

"If you had stayed, and married Duke Roland, you'd be a deposed duchess, likely with a price on your head. This was not about you, Sofia. It was going to happen anyway."

"How did you get away? The message you passed through Wini said you were staying longer."

"Wini?" Cedric looked at me oddly.

"Ma." Lachlan said, his eyes closed. "She calls them Wini and Wyn."

"She said I could." I stuck my tongue out at Lachlan but he didn't see me with his eyes shut. Cedric laughed. "So, how did you get away?"

"Ian knew I wasn't really looking for you. He knew something was going on but that I would never tell. As soon as Duke Roland left for the palace, I knew I had to be away. I actually left minutes before the duke, and I'm glad I did, as I heard that Ian had sealed the castle. Everyone and everything was inspected by the guards. Ian would not have let me go."

"How long ago did you leave?"

"Nearly a month, I think. I started out on the roads but after some trouble I stayed away and had to go around some towns."

"What kind of trouble?" Lachlan asked, his eyes still closed but a frown on his face.

"Conscription of all able-bodied men. Cutpurses and bandits. The usual."

"Is that why you are limping?" I asked.

Cedric shrugged. "I got a little beat up. Luckily, I wasn't carrying anything too valuable. I sent all that on to Ma before even you left," he smiled at me. "But they did get my bag," he patted it, "when they attacked me by surprise. When I came to, I tracked them and used a few simple spells on them. Last I saw them, they were enthusiastic about joining the king's army." His smile was bigger.

"Do you think it would be safe to head back to your house, Lachlan?" I asked, hopeful to be back where it was quiet.

He opened his eyes and looked between Cedric and me. "I think, Sofia, that Rocky Cliffs will be safer with all the people, and the ability to leave the kingdom altogether. And it's further from the palace."

I must have pouted because both men laughed. "It won't be all bad," Lachlan tried to console me as he reached for my hand. I saw Cedric's eyes flash for an instant. "I might just leave you two with my friend and head home myself." Lachlan closed his eyes again and relaxed.

"Get some sleep," Cedric told him, and the sorcerer stood, holding out his hand to help me rise. I saw Lachlan become more restful and Cedric pulled me away.

Cedric was still limping. "Cedric, can't you heal yourself?"

He did not answer. Instead, he pulled me into his arms and his lips found mine. My hands slipped up around his neck and the kiss became deeper. The next thing I knew, Cedric had used his leg to bend my knees and he lay me down on the ground gently, his body partially covering mine.

"Your brother," I gasped between kisses, as Cedric's hand began to roam.

"He won't wake for a while." Cedric's lips found my neck and I gasped. My fist clutched the front of his shirt tightly and pulled. "I love you," he stopped suddenly, looking at my eyes. "Marry me, Sofia. The first chance we get. Marry me."

I could not help but smile. My eyelids fluttered and my breathing stopped as I tried to say yes or I will or something.

"You don't want to marry me," concern flooded his being.

"No. I mean, yes! I…I didn't know what to say! But yes!"

"You'll marry me?"

"Yes!"

After that, I was glad the hay was tall. Unlike in my bed, where Cedric took his time, we were naked quite quickly, and Cedric was inside me. It was not as comfortable as before, but his body and mine were together, and that was all I wanted. After, I lay with my head in the crook of his arm while his fingers traced over my hip and stomach, his lips kissing my face now and then.

"You are perfect," he murmured.

I giggled. "Compared to whom?"

"Compared to everyone." He nuzzled my hair.

"So, did you miss me?"

"Every second. Did you miss me?"

"Sometimes."

The look of mock horror on his face made me laugh, but then his teeth grazed against me neck, making me gasp. His fingers found my nipple and squeezed. "Apparently, I need to make sure you remember me better," he whispered.

"Just don't leave me again, and I won't have to miss you." My fingers traced his jawline.

"Sofia?" Lachlan called.

Cedric and I stopped cold. "I'm here, Lachlan. Are you well?"

"I…is Cedric here too?"

"Yes," Cedric called.

"What in the hell did you do to me? My head feels like you ran a wagon over it. Where are you?"

"Be there in a minute," I called, pulling away from Cedric, and toward my clothing strewn nearby. Cedric forced me back down, pinned me under him and gave me one last, long kiss. Lachlan kept speaking but neither Cedric nor I were paying attention. "I love you, Cedric."

"I love you."