Chapter 5

The Escape

Miranda helped Sofia to her feet, and though Sofia didn't feel like it at all, she went with her. They walked in silence out of the dining room and down the corridor. Sofia felt betrayed by the woman whom she trusted the most,and all she wanted was to just run away from it all, from the queen and especially the king.

"Sofia?" Said Miranda suddenly, and came to a holt in the middle of the corridor. "What you did in there was very unwise, and very risky," she looked down at her, with a worried gaze. Sofia thought to interrupt but didn't bother. She was too tired to even think of what to say.

"I do agree with what you said though, but this was not the place or the time." Sofia suddenly forgot that she was tired and listened closely.

"And furthermore; his right, you don't have an inkling of what this war is about."

Was this supposed to make her feel better, thought Sofia. If she really did agree with her why hadn't she done something back there, she could at least have defended her own daughter.

"I really wanted to say something, but in these times one must walk with caution." Miranda looked at her with apologising eyes, but Sofia didn't quite understand.

"You must understand that Roland has had a hard time during this war."

"Then maybe he could consider stopping the war. From my perspective the last thing this kingdom needs is a war." Said Sofia frustrated, and Miranda smiled lovingly.

"And from Roland's perspective a war is exactly what this kingdom needs." Said Miranda as-a-matter-of-factly.

"But that doesn't make any sense," yelled Sofia, due to her confusion and frustration.

"Well there's a lot of things you don't know and don't understand yet," and to Sofia's surprise Miranda actually looked thrilled.

"The way I see it you have two options," Said Miranda, looking like this was amusing her, "you can either give up, stay put, and except the way things are," she paused dramatically and smiled, "or you can go free your friend and get as long away from here as you can."

Sofia was taken aback by this, was the queen suggesting that she just run away?

"I don't und.." Sofia began.

"You will," said Miranda, smiling her motherly smile, that she always gave Sofia when she was proud of her, "Soon."

"But mother, what about you, Amber and James?" Sofia couldn't believe it, "what will happen to you if I go."

"Sofia, I promise that nothing will happen to Amber, James or me," she looked calm, and not at all concerned, "trust me on this, everything will be alright."

Sofia was just about to say something but didn't, she wanted to escape, she wanted to run away from it all, but it just didn't seem to be possible. It seemed like her most desired dream had magically come true, but it somehow felt wrong. But on the other hand she knew her mother to be a very wise woman, and Sofia trusted her deeply. And when she had finally accepted her mother's suggestion, it hit her that she didn't know how to get Hugo out.

"But mother, what about Hugo?" She looked up at her mother and queen in question, "how am I supposed to get him out?" But the queen didn't move a muscle, she simply smiled, for a moment.

"I think you already have a plan." Said Sofia's mother and then she curtsied, "and now I will leave you to yourself, and you plan making." And before Sofia could object Miranda had turned on her heel and started to walk away.

Sofia stood and considered for a few seconds, before she realised what she had to do. She started to run down the corridor, and wondered why she hadn't thought of this before. What she was going to do now might have helped not getting in this mess in the first place, if only she had thought of it earlier. And she ran and ran, feeling a little dumb, as the door came into sight. She came to a holt in front of it, hesitated a little before she raised her hand to knock on it. There was silence for a moment, before a familiar voice was heard:

"Come in," said Cedric, sounding a little unsure. Sofia immediately grabbed the door knob and walked in the room. It had been a long time since she had been in there the last time, but the circular room looked its same old self; the rough stone walls and floor, that looked like it hadn't been sweeped or cleaned for months, and the desk that as always was a mess filled with half-done potions and several spell book just lying around, some of which that look very old and stained. Cedric himself was sitting on his stool in front of the desk, probably finishing whatever he was doing the moment Sofia had knocked on the door.

"Yes, yes, I will prepare a show for the wedding," Cedric said, apparently under the impression that it was Baileywick that had just walked in. "It will be my grandest show to date." He said, with no sound of joy or excitement in his voice, while he made a hand gesture in the air, as to express just how grand the show was going to be, but it came off as more of a sarcastic action.

"Uhm," said Sofia, feeling a little awkward but determined. And by the sound of her voice, Cedric flung around on the stool, so quickly that Sofia could feel a gentle blow from the movement.

"Princess Sofia," he looked surprised and embarrassed, but also a little pleased, "I'm so sorry, I thought you were Baileywick. You know because of the wedding; well of course you know about the wedding. Well nevermind that. I was expecting Baileywick, because the king always makes me do these magic shows to parties like this. Well of course you know that too. But I don't really like doing them, so I'm sorry if I sounded a little rude, and I will of course do it for you… I mean, for your wedding, because you deserve it, or… uhm… I mean because… uhm, a wedding is no wedding without a little magic." Said Cedric in a high pitched voice, and then took a deep breath. Sofia was blown away, thinking that she couldn't remember the last time she had heard Cerdic say so many sentences in a row. She completely forgot why she was there and walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder, as to calm him down.

"Mr. Cedric, are you alright?" She looked down at his now red face, and suddenly realised that his eyes were red just like she imagined hers to be, like he had been crying.

"No Sofia, I should be the one asking that," he looked her in the eye, "I know you don't want to marry prince Jin." Cedric seemed to be more calm now, but Sofia was surprised.

"You do? But how?" She asked, feeling a little concerned. Cedric looked at her in surprise, "well it's obvious that you are in love with prince Hugo, and have been for several years now." He said with a melancholy voice.

"Really?" Asked Sofia, considering if it really was that obvious, and if maybe that had been the reason why the king wouldn't listen. "well… that's actually why I'm here." She said remembering the reason she had come there in the first place. She bent her knees to level with the sorcerer and looked him deep in the eyes.

"I need your help," it had been a long time since those days, when she would go in and out of this room and get Cedric's help all the time. Most of the time during the war, Cedric had been helping the king in the front lines of creating new weapons. Sofia only hoped that all this war hadn't made sure, that he didn't have time for anything else or that it had taken its toll on him. And as so many times during that day, Sofia wished that it had been like old times.

"My help?" Cedric looked at Sofia with concern, but with some excitement hidden in there.

"Yes, you know like old times," Sofia didn't know why she seemed to feel different around Cedric than she used to, like all the years had caused them both to change.

He looked at her with that oddly unfamiliar face for a moment, but then the old Cedric returned.

"Well if you really need me, then you know I will always be there for you." Said Cedric with a smile, and Sofia's heart leapt.

"Really? That's wonderful," She stood up and had to stop herself from jumping up and down, "alright let's go." Sofia took Cedric's hand, and was about to help pull him from the stool, but he resisted; "Princess Sofia, what exactly are we going to do?"

Sofia stopped pulling Cedric's arm, and felt a little confused.

"We're going to free Hugo from the dungeons of course. Didn't you hear what happened this afternoon?"

Cedric didn't look happy at all to hear this. He pulled his hand away and looked down on the ground, and Sofia thought she saw his eyes glistening.

"I am sorry princess Sofia, but I can't help you." Said Cedric turning around on the stool, and raised his right hand to his face. Sofia didn't understand; why was he being like this? He had wanted to help just a minute ago, and now he didn't. And the most odd thing about it was that he seemed to suddenly be very sad.

"Why not?" Asked Sofia, walking around him to try and catch his eyes. However, Cedric turned the opposite way, so that Sofia wasn't able to see his face.

"Mr. Cedric, why not?" Asked Sofia again, this time a little louder, as if she thought he didn't hear her the first time, even though she was sure he did.

There was silence for a bit, but then he answered: "I just can't." He was mumbling and his voice sounded much higher pitched than it usually did.

"But Mr. Cedric I really need your help, I can't do this alone." Said Sofia, once again walking around him the catch his eyes. And once again he avoided her gaze and turned in the opposite direction.

Sofia was getting desperate; why was he acting like this, it didn't seem like him to turn her down, or at least not in this way. She was sure something was up.

"Mr. Cedric." She said, sounding frustrated and a bit confused, and Cedric made weird movements, but he didn't say anything.

This was underbarrable. Sofia didn't understand at all, and she was on the brink of giving up.

"Cedric! Listen to me!" Sofia almost yelled, immediately regretting it.

"Cedric?!" Whispered Cedric, "you've never called me just Cedric before."

Sofia was stunned; this was what he had picked up on? But his voice sounded so frail and weak, that she couldn't be mad at him.

"Well don't you think it's time?" Asked Sofia, feeling a bit grateful that he at least was listening.

"Really? You think so?" He said, now finally turning around, revealing a few tears that were rolling down his cheeks, and from the looks of it, they were not the first ones. However, he seemed so thunderstruck from what Sofia had said, that he hadn't noticed that he had turned, or maybe he just didn't care anymore, for he wasn't even hiding his face in his hands, he was looking her in the eye. And Sofia had to constrain herself from drying his eyes, or asking why once more now that he had turned around. Because she had a feeling that it wasn't the right thing to do, she just had to figure out what was. But before she could think, she noticed that Cedric too had a thoughtful mind, looking down. And while she studied his face, the expression turned to determination, and he let his eyes meet hers.

"Alright, I will do it," said Cedric, looking Sofia deep in the eye with a mixture of pride and sadness.

Together they ran down the corridors from the high tower, but even though Sofia felt like she was supposed to be happy, she just had a weird feeling after her strange conversation with Cedric. And the feeling seemed to be either mutual for Cedric or else he was lost in thought, for none of them spoke a single word to each other until they came close to the dungeons, where they stopped running and walked instead.

"Cedric?" He jumped, maybe from the sudden break of the silence, or maybe something else. Sofia looked up at him, and noticed that there was no longer any sign of the fact that he had been crying left on his face.

"Yes Princess Sofia?" He said with a smile, that oddly enough seemed to come from far away.

"Well, I just want you to know that you are my friend. So if there is anything I can do to make you feel better, please enlighten me." Said Sofia, feeling like she was responsible for Cedric's weird mood, but not knowing why.

"Oh, princess Sofia, just knowing that, I already feel better." He said, giving her a smile like the ones he had given so many years ago, and Sofia realised that she had been missing that more than she had expected.

They came to holt at a corner, Sofia looked around it, and when she did, the smile on Cedric's face faded.

"Alright I don't see anybody," said Sofia, turning back to Cedric, who quickly folded his face to look happy again.

"I say, if we meet anyone, I will distract them, and then you will do some of your famous magic on them," said Sofia, in an effort to keep Cedric happy, and she felt she succeeded. Cedric just nodded, and together they walked on.

Getting to the dungeons was easier than Sofia had expected. They met two guards, whom Cedric made sleep with a spell, Sofia didn't even have to distract them first.

She was surprised by how few prisoners there were, and how well treated they all seemed to be. She had thought that since there was a war going on, there would be more, and the last time she had spoken to the king, she would have thought that he treated them worse. Maybe he hadn't changed as much over the years, as Sofia thought.

After going past at least a dozen empty cells, they finally found the one that was containing Hugo. The otherwise very handsome prince, was sitting on the ground in the back of the cell against the wall, looking altogether miserable, and the sad eyes didn't suit him.

"Hugo!" Shrieked Sofia, a bit too loud, and she instinctively looked around. Hugo looked up, and his heartbroken face changed into utter joy.

"Sofia!?" He got to his feet, and ran to the bars of the cell to grab her hands. "How, did you?... I thought…. didn't they?..." Hugo said, in a weirdly loud whisper, while tears were rolling down his cheeks.

"I got some help," said Sofia pointing at Cedric, who like Sofia couldn't help but shed a tear or two.

Hugo looked at Cedric with gratefulness, and said: "Thank you so much, it's nice to see that not all great men here in Enchancia have been driven mad by power."

Sofia looked at Hugo in surprise, was that what he thought of her father? That he had been driven mad by power? However, Hugo didn't notice Sofia's look, he was focused on Cedric.

"Well I'm not done yet," Cedric said, "I have to get you out of here too." He gave a little smile, and raised his right hand which was holding his wand. Hugo took a few steps back, gave Sofia a little wink, and then looked at Cedric waiting.

Cedric however, looked like he was considering something, and stood with his arm raised for a few moments before he spoke aloud: "Bombardio!"

There was a loud noise and a big cloud of smoke, as the cell door was blown off its hinges. Sofia took a few quick steps back to make sure she didn't get hit when the bars fell to the ground.

There was a long moment of silence as the smoke disappeared, and there he was, prince Hugo, he was free. They both had the same thought, and ran at each other into a hug. They had barely hugged each other for a second before Cedric cleared his throat.

"Princess Sofia, my I ask so humbly, what your plan is from here on?" He said in an angry tone, but Sofia couldn't quite figure out why he would be mad. And when she didn't answer right away, he widened his eyes and raised his eyebrows, like he was really annoyed with her.

"Uhm… well… I think we're just going to go… get out of here." Said Sofia separating herself from Hugo and feeling really confused.

"Get out of here?" Asked Cedric, he faked an overly happy voice, "you are just going to run away with him, and… and… and leave the rest of us behind, to… to deal with this war?" His whole expression was mad, but Sofia could see that there were tears in his eyes, and she didn't know what to answer. Cedric turned away, and was about to walk away, and Sofia felt an urge to make him feel better, before he was gone.

"Well, my mother told me to do this, and uhm..," said Sofia feeling very unsure, "and, she told me to trust her and I do, so…." Cedric turned but didn't look very convinced.

"Well I have a feeling that she knows what she's doing, that somehow it's all going to be alright," said Sofia, while she walked closer to him, so as to see his expression better.

"Trust me." And that did the trick; Cedric's face loosened and he did something with his mouth that Sofia thought to be an attempt to smile. He had seemed big and intimidating, and now his shoulders fell down, and he looked down at the ground from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," Cedric's cheeks got a little red, and Sofia knew that he was going to be alright.

"So, will you help us get out of the castle?" Said Sofia, while Hugo moved forward, now that the bomb field had been cleared.

"Yes of course."

And as he looked up again, his face was a mixture of at least three different emotions.

"At the back wall down there, there is a secret passage that leads straight out of the castle," he said, pointing a finger at the far end of the room, "nobody other than me knows about it, so it's safe."

"How did you know that?" Asked Sofia in amazement.

"Well because, as a matter of fact, I made it," he said looking proud.

Hugo's jar dropped and Sofia was once again amazed as she had been so many times before by Cedric's powers.

"Waow, really? That's amazing Cedric." Said Sofia, grabbing Cedric's arm, as his face began to get a little red.

"Oh, it's nothing, but you know, sometimes I just like to do things that the king doesn't know I am doing." Said Cedric, looking half flattered and half awkward as he turned his head a little to the side.

"Well get going you, that sleeping spell will not work forever. Just pull that torch there on the wall." He said, pulling his arm from Sofia. She looked at him for a short while, before she started to turn away and said: "Alright, but if they come looking for us, then you had nothing to do with it!" She said, in a firm tone. And as Cedric nodded and waved them away, and they started to walk to the other end of the room, Sofia had a feeling that the sleeping spell would last as long as Cedric wanted it to.