Chapter 4

The Proposal

Sofia and Hugo talked for thirty minutes before they had agreed on the details of the plan. They were going to do it right after supper, and Sofia was going to warm them up to what was coming. Then Hugo would come and present the treaty for the king, and tell him that it was king Garrick who had written it.

Sofia was a little nervous, because she had felt her father slip away from her through the last few years, and she wasn't sure that he was going to listen. It felt like a long time since she had last talked to him, and felt that he was truly listening. Sofia knew that he had been her father for almost all of her life, but she had never been completely convinced that he didn't favour Amber. And now when their plan really depended on her relationship with the king, she wasn't sure that they were going to succeed.

"Sofia, you look distracted. What are you thinking about?" She realised that she had been silent for quite some time, and Hugo was looking at her a little worried.

"Sorry, I'm just thinking about the plan," he looked at her curiously, but with a hint of defence, like she had offended 'his plan'. "I know, I know, it's the best plan we have got, But I'm just worried that it might go wrong, and then we will never have the chance again." He gave her a kind and loving glare, and embraced her. They sat there hugging for a while, before he let go, and grabbed her by the shoulders and brought her in arm's reach, so he could see her face.

"Sofia? we're a team, right?" his face was very serious as he paused. She nodded and was about to tell him that he didn't have to do this, but he went on: "And that means, we are in this together." She had heard this before, maybe a thousand times.

"Yeah, yeah. I know, I…"

"And I'd do anything for you." He paused to see her expression. He had never said that before, or anything like it, for that matter.

"And if we don't succeed today, we will another day." She was listening now, still a little shocked.

"The only thing that will stop me from fighting for you, will be my own death." Her heart skipped a beat, and it was like her mind went blank. Hugo's serious grimace changed, he was now smiling. His eyes, which had been a little wide before, was suddenly relaxed. His whole expression told Sofia that he was honest, but she still found herself saying:

"You don't mean that." Sofia immediately regretted what she had said, but it was too late. Hugo gave her a hurt look, and turned away. There was silence for a few moments, then he whispered:

"Of course I mean it Sofia, I thought you knew," he slowly turned to look at her again, "I love you." He looked a little nervous, but determined, and Sofia didn't know what to say. It was like her whole body was on standby, and still it felt like it was working harder than ever. She wanted to say something back, but it was like her mind and body were two separate things, unable to work together. She didn't move a muscle, she just sat there and stared at him, unable to say anything, or at least indicate that she had heard what he had said. She was so worked up, that she first noticed that he was laughing, after he had been doing so for a while. His glare was gentle, and his lips curled in a smile as he stopped. But when she started to look confused, he couldn't help himself but laugh again.

"I'm sorry," Sofia said, looking down in her lap, feeling a little embarrassed. Hugo immediately stopped laughing.

"Sofia, you don't have to be sorry about anything." Sofia turned to him, and saw that he was looking very sincere.

"If anything, I'm sorry I Laughed." His eyes were kind but his expression was serious. "I've known it for a while, and I didn't know how or when to tell you, but today, I just knew I had to tell you before the day was out." He gave her a nervous smile, "I never stopped to think that it was maybe not the perfect time for you." It was obvious that he was sorry, Sofia thought. "And I'm sorry for that." But it wasn't his fault, Sofia thought, she was just not used to people declaring their love to her.

"You shouldn't be Hugo," said Sofia, "I just have a hard time understanding how a prince like you could ever love me." He was about to interrupt, but didn't get the chance, "I know I'm supposed to be a princess, but I don't have a single drop of royal blood in my veins." But this was too much for Hugo, " Sofia, I don't love you because you're a princess," he almost looked offended, "I love you because you're a great person, because you've always understood me like nobody ever has, because you're the most wonderful person I have ever met." His eyes were wide but kind, and there was a little smile in the corner of his mouth, like he was really trying to make her understand.

"really? I never knew you felt that way." Her voice sounded a little higher than she had expected.

"Oh, how could I not feel that way? Sofia you have always been there for me, when I doubted myself the most." He looked happy, like he had wanted to say these things for a long time, and now he had gotten the chance.

"Every time, I felt down, or didn't believe in myself, or every time I felt alone, or felt left out, you were there, always, and you always understood, you always set yourself aside, and focused on other people, you're always so kind and loving. And even now that our fathers are fighting a war against each other, you're still there, right by my side, fighting for me. How could anyone not love a person like that?" When he had finished he panted a little, but looked happy and relieved. Sofia on the other hand was taken aback, and it felt like her heart was in her throat, and she found herself opening her mouth without actually knowing what she wanted to say.

"You don't have to say anything, Sofia," said Hugo to Sofia's relief.

"If we see each other on the other side you can tell me how you feel," he said, in a happy voice, but with a hint of mournfulness, "but for now let's just focus on the plan."

And so they did. And when Baileywick knocked on the door to tell, that supper was ready, Sofia felt prepared for what was lying ahead. She felt that with Hugo by her side she could accomplish anything.

Sofia changed the dirty dress she had been wearing all day, while Hugo pretended to look the other way. Afterwards Sofia walked alone down the corridor to the dining room while Hugo found another way. When she walked in, they were all there already, so she hurried to sit down. Sofia and Hugo had agreed that he was to hide and wait for supper to be done, and then he would listen by the door for her cue. They were hoping that no one would notice him, due to the fact that he was wearing kitchen clothes.

When supper had been served and they started eating, Roland cleared his throat.

"Sofia, you are not usually late, what held you up?" Said Roland, not looking at her as he took a bite of his food. Sofia felt a sudden jolt in her chest, even though she knew that they couldn't possibly know what was going on.

"Uhm, I had to change dress. The one I was wearing was dirty, after this whole day of planning." Sofia said, thinking that if she had to lie, then it might as well be as close to the truth as possible. But she still didn't think it sounded very convincing. Roland however seemed to believe the lie, but Amber and James gave Sofia weird looks, and her mother looked a little suspicious. She glanced from Sofia to the king, and back again, even though Roland seems to be long lost in enjoying his food. Sofia felt her heart start beating faster, when Miranda gave her that look she would usually give her when she knew that Sofia was lying. 'Oh no', thought Sofia, what if we're exposed before we even get to tell them what we want to do? Sofia gave queen Miranda an anxious look, like she was silently begging her not to say anything. Miranda seemed to understand, but gave Sofia a sharp look, before she returned to the plate of food in front of her. Sofia's shoulder fell down, she hadn't even noticed that she had been building up tension. She looked around, expecting not to escape that easy, but they were all just eating their food. Though - Sofia noticed - Amber was looking a little tense, and Sofia knew that it must be hard for her to hold her own plan in. After all she was usually telling the whole family when something was going down, but today she had to keep shut, and the silence seemed to take its toll on her.

"So you want to hear what I have been up to?" Said Sofia, in an attempt to make Amber less tense. The king and queen both looked up from their plates.

"Why sure Sofia, we'd love to." Said Roland, and by the looks of it he seemed to be pleased, but not with Sofia, with himself. He apparently thought that the arranged marriage between Sofia and Jin was the best idea he had had for a long time. Sofia was just happy that he believing her acting.

"Well, I've been choosing a dress, and decorations for the ball room and all." Said Sofia, hoping she sounded cheerful.

"Oh, of course, why didn't you ask me for help, I would have loved to help," said Amber, seeming to have forgotten that she a moment ago had been very tense, "but never mind that, which dress did you end up choosing?" She looked at Sofia, who had been so happy that Amber had relaxed, now found herself lost for words for a few moments.

"Uhm..it's a big ball gown with beautiful lace, and a long and gorgeous veil from the shoulders." Said Sofia, actually enjoying the conversation. As she said it, Amber looked like she could have jumped on the spot, if she had been standing up.

"That sounds absolutely amazing, Sofia," said Amber with a voice that was shrilly from excitement, "I can't wait to see it."

They spend the rest of supper, discussing wedding dresses, and decorations. Sofia almost felt like it was just one of those normal evenings, they had had so long ago, back before the war.

However, when supper was almost over, Sofia began to feel a little nervous again, thinking about Hugo and the treaty. She postponed the moment a little, before she cleared her throat and turned to all of them.

"Father, I have something I want to say," she began, "and I'd really like for you to listen to me until I'm done." She tried to give Roland a stern look, but it just made her feel silly. They all looked up at her in silence, waiting for her to say something.

"Very well then," Sofia paused, "I have been thinking a lot about this war, and as you guessed I already knew that you were going to marry me away for the better of the kingdom." She stopped for a moment to see their reaction. The king and queen were smiling, but Amber looked a little nervous.

"And even though I respect your decision and your authority, I found myself in the situation of not agreeing with you." Roland's smile faded a little. "No one here seemed to be able to explain it to me, so I took matters into my own hands. And at various occasions in the company of other princes and princesses I finally found someone whom I agreed with." Amber knew where Sofia was going with this and started to look anxious. "And together we found the way we want this war to end." Roland wasn't smiling at all now. "We knew that it wasn't our place to make decisions, but at least thought that we could present our solution, so that it could be taken into consideration." Sofia looked askingly at Roland, who didn't look pleased at all.

"Sofia, I don't like where this is going." Said the king, but Miranda lay a hand on his shoulder, "Roly, please let her finish." He looked unhappy about it, but he didn't say anything.

"We thought you might like to see our work, and therefore," Sofia raised her voice a little," I would like to present the son of King Garrick. Prince Hugo." Sofia was about to aim a hand at the door, but before she could do so the king had risen from his chair.

"Hugo is here in the castle?" And as an answer to the king's question, Hugo walked in the door. The king looked completely confused, but he quickly turned to be white-hot angry.

"Guards! seize him!" The king yelled, giving Hugo a nasty look.

"No!" Sofia had risen from her chair as well, and was now on her way to where the king was standing.

"Father please just listen to what he has to say." Sofia grabbed the king's arm, and he looked down at her in fury.

"You brought the son of our enemy to the midst of our kingdom, how could you do this?" Sofia turned away from the king and to her mother, but she only gave her a sharp look, like she also thought she had done something wrong.

The guards had gotten to Hugo, and though he tried to fight them off, there were just too many of them.

"Throw him in the dungeon." Said the king, pointing his finger at the door. Sofia grabbed the king's hands and nealed in front of him.

"Father, I beg you, please just listen to him... or at least take a look at what he brought." Roland's expression softened, and he looked down at her. "Please, he has a piece of parchment in his jacket. If you value my opinion, just a little bit, then please, just look at it." They had screwed up the one chance they had, and now she had to do everything in her power to try and turn it around, even if just a smitch. Sofia looked up at her father, while her mind was racing, and there was silence for a moment.

"Bring it to me," said Roland, and stretch out a hand. Sofia couldn't believe it, it had worked, maybe he didn't favour Amber over her, maybe Sofia could turn this war around. Maybe the king wasn't as distant as she had thought.

One of the guards grabbed inside Hugo's jacket, and brought the treaty to the king. Roland took it, and his expression hardened again.

"This has the seal of king Garrick on it. What is it?" Said the king, looking tired.

"It's a peace treaty." Whispered Sofia, hoping he wouldn't be mad at her.

"A what?" He yelled, and looked like he was about to throw it away.

"Please, king Garrick wrote it himself, to make peace between our kingdoms." The tiny hope she had had before was long gone now. The king didn't just seem furious, he seemed to feel betrayed, and the old face he had worn earlier that day was back now. He unrolled the parchment, but he only gave it a glance, then he turned to Sofia with tired and timeworn eyes.

"You have brought me many things through the years, but this is by far the worst attempt I have ever seen." He rolled the parchment again and laid it upon the table. Sofia's heart sank; he hadn't even read it, he had just glanced at it shortly.

"Father, you didn't even read.." Began Sofia

"Sofia," he raised his voice, "don't test me," he gave her a hard look. Sofia couldn't believe it, why would he go to such lengths just for some war.

"But you won't even try to understand, why would you fight a war over a piece of land?" Said Sofia feeling aggrieved and angry. "You won't even lis.."

"No Sofia, you are the one who won't listen,"he was trembling and looked like he could snap at any given moment, but he still looked very intimidating, "if you had listened to me, you would know what this war is actually about, and you would have been able to maybe write a treaty nearly as convincing as a real one." He was almost screaming now, and Sofia had a hard time holding back her tears. Whether it was the yelling or the fact that she couldn't even recognize the man that was supposed to be her father, she didn't know. The king took a deep breath, and spoke in a calmer but still very harsh voice:

"And now, not only have you exposed you and your friend's plans, you have also lost my appreciation of your opinion and my trust." Sofia fell to the floor in tears. How could this man be her father, and how could they have failed so spectacularly? Sofia found herself not even being able to get up and fight for Hugo as the guards dragged him away, she could only lie on the floor and cry. She almost couldn't see Hugo's expression of terror and fury through the tears, but she heard his weirdly distant cry, and then the king spoke:

"Miranda, will you please bring Sofia to her room?" although his voice was distant, Sofia could hear that he was much calmer now. Sofia looked up in her mother's face, which was kind but with a hint of pity, and Sofia thought to herself that she didn't want to fight anymore. What was the point?