Saving Prince James: A James and Sofia Love Story
Set in an alternate universe, James is now 20 and usurped his father as king and conquered every kingdom to create an empire, but he has lived his years as a lonely king with only power and wealth to keep him company. When Cedric summons a banished Sofia, 18, to the castle to secretly save the kingdoms and James, something stirs in James's heart the moment he sees a grown and blossomed Sofia. Can a banished princess save the kingdoms and can a ruthless prince find his way into the heart of a princess he once lost?
Chapter 3: The Light in James
Sofia
Sofia couldn't believe what she was seeing and hearing. Just a matter of moments ago, she saw that a real smile broke onto his lips, that there was a hint of the former James she loved. How did he go from that to yelling at her out of pure rage? His eyes were wide and crazed, anger seethed out of them. It was something that she's never seen before in him, not even when he found out about King Roland II's affair, back then, his anger never escalated to this extent.
He was only asking her questions about their shoe repair business, and, to be honest, his question about who else did they share their business with confused her. She just didn't understand who he was referring to until he shouted at her and pointed to the magical image of Thomas. Then, her stubbornness took over. Sofia just didn't take kindly to how he shouted demands from her, not even when they were kids, when he was kinder and the sweet James she loved. But she just didn't expect for him to explode like that and how out of control the entire situation got.
Everything around her moved in slow motion. Out of the corners of her eyes, Sofia saw the unsure guards approaching them. Beside her, Amber was still yelling at James to call of the guards, which James just screamed back that he'll do it only when Sofia tells him the truth. Baileywick and Cedric were beside James, trying to reason with him.
Every voice in the room was rising and it was all pure chaos. Sofia could practically feel all of the fear and anger as they mixed; it was like a dark storm cloud was above this room and striking everyone in the room with bolts of fury and terror.
Then her mother caught her eye. She was standing there in the middle of it all, too frightened to move a muscle. All color drained out of her and looking like she might faint any minute.
Mom… Sofia thought, her mind returning to what happened to her after news broke of King Roland II's death. Everyone looked to Queen Miranda for guidance, but she was still mourning and too paralyzed with grief to do anything. She couldn't carry on the kingdom and was simply overwhelmed by it all; she nearly drove herself mad by the workload and stress.
She just couldn't handle it, not with the love of her life gone from her side. Her broken heart kept her immobilized in the castle. So when James first exiled them all, she was close to breaking, but the serenity and peacefulness of the countryside healed her just a bit. Sofia remembered how much happier her mom became the moment they were out in the fresh open air and away from the court of Enchancia.
Honestly, Sofia was surprised that her mother even agreed to accompany her and Amber back to the castle. She was so sure that her mother would disagree to the entire plan and would want nothing to do with James and the kingdom. But she came with them and now here she is, pale and near to fainting….
Thinking of a quick plan to save her mom and sister first, she yelled at the top of her lungs, "stop!"
Sofia's scream broke through all of the chaos, silencing and freezing everyone in the room. Looking James right in the eye, she negotiated with him, "James, I'll only tell you what you want to know only if you promise me that mom and Amber will return safely back to our estate and that you'll never," her voice grew hard and threatening, "use her against me or Amber ever again."
Finished, she stared long at him in the completely silenced room, everyone staring at her in disbelief. Sofia felt Amber take her hand in hers and holding on tightly as the two sisters both stood protectively around their mother.
A few minutes passed before James ever replied, "Fine, you have my kingly word that both she and Amber will return–"
"No!" Queen Miranda screamed, all heads turned to the Queen Mother in shock, "no, only have me return to the estate!"
"Mom?" both girls said, shocked that their usually peaceful mother raised her voice.
"Amber, you need to stay with Sofia! Protect her and keep watch over her. Please!"
"No, mom, only I'm staying back. You and Amber are going home first, where it's safe. I'll be back before you know it."
"Sofia!" Amber yelled, her voice cracking from all of the screaming she did earlier. "You can't be serious! You can't stay here alone, not with that monster!" she motioned at James.
"Sofia, please, let Amber stay with you here. I'd sleep better knowing that you two are together here."
"But mom, I'd sleep better knowing that you're not all alone at the estate. What about all of the shoes you have to repair and return?"
"I'm not alone, Sofia," she said, "I have Marie and Abbey at the estate and Thomas is there too, remember?" taking Sofia's free hand into hers and giving her a small, gentle smile. "Please, Sofia."
"Mom–" Sofia tried, cut off by Amber.
"I agree with mom, Sofia," Amber said, "I can't leave my little sister here and you know that no number of guards can place me into that carriage. I will fight back if I have to, Sofia," looking into Sofia's eyes, dead serious.
"How about this," James said, breaking the three women's touching moment, "I send with her, ten more butlers and maids? Will that make you feel more certain about sending her home alone, Sofia?"
Looking back and forth from James to Amber and her mother, Sofia was conflicted. She didn't want to send her mother back home alone, but she knew that nothing will change Amber's mind about staying. Sofia knew she made an agreement to stay and somehow save James, but Amber didn't. Amber wasn't asked to save him; she didn't have to come along. She could be home, safe with their mom.
But before Sofia could reply, she was quickly cut off again by Amber, "make it twenty and you have a deal!"
"Amber!" Sofia scolded.
"Very well," James said, not bothering to hear a word Sofia had left to say. "Ladies, say your goodbyes. Guards, please take Queen Miranda back to the carriage and escort her safely back to her estate."
Beat, Sofia gave up and turned to her mom, "mom–"
"It's okay, Sofia. I'll be fine," she said. "Just promise me that you two will be safe and return to me as quickly as possible?"
"We promise," Amber said since Sofia could only nod, feeling a lump growing in her throat.
Hugging Sofia, Queen Miranda whispered in her ear, "I see it, Sofia. Despite all of this madness, I can see that there is still good in him."
All Sofia could do was simply hug her even tighter and as they watch their mother leave the room with the guards, small tears pooled into each of the girls' eyes.
Wiping her eyes and bracing herself, Sofia turned back around to face James.
James
It was all out of control, pure chaos roamed the throne room. Angry screams and shouts were being thrown everywhere and he was only adding to it by yelling back at his twin, Amber. He couldn't get a hold on his anger, nothing could contain it back inside him and he just watched as it controlled very word coming out of his mouth. Everything just escalated so fast and it was all out of his hands now. Like a slippery snake, no matter how hard he tried to reel it back in and regain his grip, it just bite him and attacked everyone in the room. And what was worse was that it just caused the next words to come out even more venomous than the last.
He knew that trying to threaten Sofia would do nothing because she was so damn stubborn, but it was just thrown out of his mouth from his anger. He had no real control over it and seeing her afraid only brought him a few seconds of joy, moments later he cursed himself for being the cause of her fear. More than anything, he wants to be the reason why she smiles and not give her anymore reasons to hate him.
Beside him, he barely heard Baileywick or Cedric trying to calm him down, but that did nothing and he just continued to shout back insults to Amber and yelling for the guards to grab hold of his mom. His rage was just being fueled even more because they just stood there unsure of what to do, yet moving so slow towards the queen and two princesses.
Then he heard this incredibly loud shout that froze everything around him and looking at the source, he was too stunned to move. He suddenly didn't know what to do or feel besides just staring at this amazing red cheeked and fiery eyed young lady before him. She was breathing heavily, obvious that she used almost every ounce of her might to scream at the top of her lungs. Looking right at him, she squared her shoulders and glared at him, and the next thing he knew, she was negotiating with him.
Once again, Sofia has amazed him by the way she spoke to him like she was talking to a person, not a king or the monster he was. Her head raised and held high, she said every word with the dignity and grace of a princess but she didn't talk down to him. No, she spoke to him like they were equals but conveyed every meaning in her words to him and he heard each one, even the way her tone became thick and solemn, nose flaring to show how serious she was being, that she wouldn't take any of his crap and might even beat a yes out of him.
But then, certain words of hers rang out to him. Mom and Amber will return…, he thought. Not Sofia! Suddenly, he wanted her to stay. He needed her to stay here and remain beside him. James just knew that he needed her, that she was his saving light. That she was the only thing that can keep him sane and maybe, just maybe, happy….
Every fiber in him now shouted for him to think of a way to get her to stay, but then he saw that moment between the three of them…. James couldn't say a word; he couldn't if he wanted to. They were in a world all their own, a tender and loving world that he knew he doesn't belong in anymore. He was an outsider, destined to only watch and… envy….
Now, instead of thinking of keeping Sofia, he only thought of trying to make amends for threatening his mother and trying to ease Sofia's worries. And he just quietly sat there as their mother walked out of the room, not knowing what to do but just watch and silently saying his own goodbye.
Then she turned around and faced him with the same squared shoulders and raised head.
"Alright, James," Sofia frowned, "this is how it's going to go, you and I are going to take turns asking and honestly answering each question. That's all."
Fazed by her brashness, he didn't respond right away.
Then he saw how glossy her eyes looked, she was crying… he thought and then shame and guilt washed over him. Crap!
He wanted to apologize, to simply hold Sofia and tell her how sorry he was. Sorry that he caused her to cry, sorry that he exploded at her, and sorry for everything that he's ever done, but he can't do that with Amber glaring daggers at him. He just needed Sofia alone with him, to say it all honestly.
Then an idea popped into his head.
"Alright," James began, "but only if Amber goes to her room and wait until we're done, I'll even have all of the guards leave the room so that it is only you and me. One-on-One."
"What?! Like hell that'll happen!" Amber exclaimed and continued to curse him out before Sofia placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"It's okay, Amber. Just go and wait, I'll be fine here."
"Sofia!" Amber protested.
"Trust me, I promise I'll be fine."
"Fine…" Amber grumbled, and before she left the room, she then turned to James with a warning look, "hurt her and I swear I'll go through all of the guards just to kill you myself."
As the guards were leaving, James had two chairs brought out into the center of the room and motioned for Sofia to take a seat.
"Ladies first," James said after joining Sofia and sitting across from her.
"Why did you call us all back here?"
"Because I wanted to know who that guy sitting next to you was," James answered immediately. "Who is he?"
"His name is Thomas and he's our neighbor's boy that works as Mom's assistant."
Unsatisfied with her answer, James forgot about their agreement and continued for more. "What–"
"My turn, remember?" Sofia said, cutting him off. "Why did the image of Thomas on the crystal ball bother you so much?"
James just looked at her, not knowing how to answer her question, "I… don't know…."
"That's not an answer, James."
"I'm being serious Sofia, I honestly don't know. I can't answer as to why this Thomas guy bothers me, but he just does. I just got really mad at him for sitting next to you and making you laugh…. I'm sorry Sofia…."
"For what?"
"For losing it on you, for threatening mom, for making you cry," James said, looking at his hands in his lap. "For everything…."
Dammit, I can't even look at her in the eyes to apologize to her.
James didn't hear Sofia respond, and after a while of just staring at his lap, he looked up to see Sofia just looking at him like she was evaluating him or something. And the two just sat there in the echoing silence of the throne room.
"Sofia…," James pleaded. "Say something…."
And then, she finally did. "Do you mean it? Do you mean what you're saying?"
"Yes," he said quickly. "Yes, I meant every word I said, Sofia. I am truly and incredibly sorry for everything."
Sofia went quite again, just sitting there like she was thinking to herself.
Since James already said what he wanted to, he decided to just tell her everything he felt. That it was now or never because he might not ever get the same chance to talk to her like this ever again.
"Sofia, I need you." James blurted out. His heart was pumping and beating a million miles a minute, making him pour everything out as fast as possible before his mind shuts him up. "Look Sofia, I don't know why but I just know I need you here with me. I just have this gut feeling that you're my light or something and that you keep me feeling sane or at least normal. And maybe, with you here, I'll figure it out as to just why I have this desire to have you here next to me."
"James," she said, but once it got out, he couldn't stop and everything began to come out.
"Sof," James said, calling her by her old childhood nickname, "for the last few years now, I could feel myself sinking into this dark, dark place in my mind. It was like I was drowning and I didn't even try to fight my way back up. I was ready to just give up and let it consume me whole, but then you started to appear in my dreams and then there was light. Like I could somehow breathe again and find my way back slowly. Sof, you're my light."
Looking her in the eyes, he just kept on going as she sat there with a stunned expression, like she couldn't believe what she was hearing. He just wanted to say it all, to have no regrets. Then maybe she'll believe every word he's saying and want to stay here with him. Hell, he'll even bring Mom back just to see it'll convince her if she said no.
"When you came back to the castle, Sof, I knew that it was the best decision I've made all year because of how you calmed down that whole situation earlier. With just one word, you stopped everything and somehow solved it all. You calmed me down. I felt it, Sof, and I just know that if you're here, then things will get better. So please," he begged, "say you'll stay here, at least for a while. I need you."
Again, James and Sofia sat there in silence, looking at each other as James waited for Sofia to say something… anything. He didn't know how many minutes or hours passed before she even moved her mouth to form a word or sound.
"James, I don't know if I trust you enough or not right now…," she began, "and what I can trust is my gut and it's telling me that you're telling the truth. All I know right now is that I… actually believe you. I believe your words and what you just said, that you saying everything honestly. But I still can't trust you, at least for now I hope. So… I guess what I'm saying is… yes."
When those words were uttered out of her mouth, it took everything in him to just remain seated in his chair. James was filled with bliss and exhilaration, he wanted to just take her into his arms and jump happily around the entire room. She said yes!
"Yes, I'll stay here with you at the castle," she continued, "only if you let Amber stay too and hear out our conditions when we show it to you later."
"Yes, yes, of course." James couldn't help the big smile that broke out onto his face. He was just too happy to hear that she agreed to stay here with him.
"James, I don't know how long I'm willing to stay here, but–"
"Absolutely, I understand," he said quickly, too happy to even care what else she was going to saw, still smiling big and bright.
"James," Sofia sighed.
And then when he didn't think his day couldn't get any better, Sofia smiled back at him. Her smile was small, it wasn't big like the one he saw in the crystal ball but it still has the same effect on him either way. It was like time and the earth stood still for him, James couldn't bring himself to look away from something so beautiful. Her smile was soft and gentle, just like her….
I made her smile! James thought. I freaking made her smile!
"Okay, James," Sofia said as she stood up from her seat. "I'm sure Amber is worried about me right now, so I'm going to go check up on her. I'll see you later."
"Ah! Um…," James hasted, not wanting to this moment between them to end. "I'll see you two at dinner, right?"
"Alright," she said with another smile, gently patting his hand and leaving the room.
All James could do was just sit there and watch her as she left, leaving him to his delighted thoughts. Several moments after just sitting there, smiling to himself like an idiot, Baileywick returned with various piles of paperwork he had to get done and James nearly skipped with joy his entire way to his study in the library.
Sofia
Walking to Amber's old room, Sofia couldn't get what just happened between her and James out of her mind. She honestly didn't expect to see that side of James at all, the way he looked so guilt-ridden and ashamed over everything that happened earlier. Sofia was just so stunned to see him hanging his head so low and the way he couldn't look at her when apologizing. She could only just sit there, unable to say a word.
When James finally looked up at her, she saw human emotions in him for the first time since she arrived late this morning, something that she believed was gone and dead inside of him.
For that long moment between them, she kept on searching his face for any hint of lies so that she can just prepare herself for the inevitable hurt, but she saw none. She only saw raw, honest emotions. It was like she felt them too and she just knew then that there was hope in him. The honesty, the emotions, everything that happened in that room between them convinced her to stay, to save the light in James.
There's a chance to save him after all…, Sofia thought.
Chapter three! Woo!
Thank you to all those who read and reviewed the past two chapters, I love all of your amazing words and I can't thank you all enough. I'm so happy at how well this series was received by you guys!
Again, please read and review this chapter. Tell me what and who you guys are excited to see in the future chapters, be honest yet mature and respectful. Chapter four should be up a couple of days from now.
Thanks :)
