Les Misérables

Summary: After studying about the dark past of surrounding kingdoms, Tanya asks Cedric and Sofia if any other kingdom ever had the same level of darkness. This leads to a very unexpected story, filled with despair, hope, severed and forged bonds, and preventable demise. Read Me a Story format! (Takes place 5 years after my season 5 stories)

Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First. I own Corban and some other OCs mentioned here. MarionetteJ2X owns Tanya and Nana.

A/N: Thus ends the story within a story… The real story will end soon as well. I hope you enjoyed it! 😊

Chapter 19: Atonement

A few days had passed since Desmond and Amber's wedding, and at the moment, Roland was housed in a convent, looking far worse for the wear. In fact, it seemed that just within a matter of days, his health had declined severely. Truth be told, he wasn't exactly young anymore, and his experiences and troubles had certainly sped up his aging process. As it was, he was waiting for death, which he would easily welcome with open arms at this point. He was exhausted from life, from the disappointments associated with it, and from constantly running due to fear and uncertainty. That was no life to live… It wasn't even his life anymore, anyway, and hadn't been for quite some time.

All he knew was, despite how long and hard his life had been, he'd done the best he could for Amber to have a better experience in this cold, cruel world. He sincerely hoped she got the most out of all the sacrifices, care, and consideration he'd attempted to ensure happened, so that she could live well and without any real restraints or trauma. Or as little as possible, as it were… His own life, he could feel, was slowly slipping away. It was like a wave of exhaustion—the kind that wouldn't be cured—had overtaken him. And even now, he could hear whispers beckoning him to the other side…

"Roland," came a sweet, gentle voice that the man hadn't heard in years. Before him appeared the spiritual form of Lorelei, with her hair restored to its former glory, curling around her lithe, white-clad form. She looked like the angels he used to hear about from his grandmother's old tales, but to him, she looked so much lovelier and far more ethereal…

"Lorelei…" Roland's voice was so raspy now, with the underlayer of both age and fatigue evident. "W-What are you doing here?" He tried to sit up in his chair, with the candles around him flickering to give him a bit more light to see. Trying to see a ghost… The irony wasn't lost on him.

"I'm here to take you home, Roland," she explained kindly and patiently. "Thank you for everything you've done for my daughter. You took her in as your own, even when you didn't have to. For that, you will be justly rewarded, I assure you." She reached out her hand, placing it over his own, her fingers grazing the surface of his skin yet soon disappearing through his hand. "Come with me."

Before he could respond, he heard sharp gasps to his side. Looking up, he saw Amber and Desmond entering the room. "Amber…"

"Daddy," Amber sobbed, hurrying over to him and dropping beside him, hugging him with all her might. "We were told by some villagers that they saw you come here a few days ago. Why? Why would you disappear like that? Do you have any idea how much I missed you?"

"My sweet girl," Roland murmured, running his fingers through her hair. "I have so much I want to tell you… But I don't have much time left in this realm, I'm afraid…"

Desmond, hearing that, knew he needed to say something. "Sir, it was only recently that I discovered…" He wrung his fingers together, not quite sure how to say what he wanted. "I wanted to thank you…for saving me at the barricade."

Amber looked between them, seeing the look of recognition pass on her father's face. "Daddy…"

Roland simply smiled at his new son-in-law and nodded slowly. "It was an honor to do so, young Desmond. And now, I have a request." He gestured toward Amber, who began sniffling. "Watch over my daughter. I've done the best I can, but I know now that you are the perfect replacement, for I feel you love her as much as I have… But you can love her and be there for her in a way that I can't."

Desmond nodded solemnly, realizing his meaning. "I promise, sir. I promise…"

Amber couldn't stop the rest of her tears from falling as she snuggled closer into her father's chest. "You can't just leave me, Daddy… There are so many things I still don't know. Things we've never discussed…"

"I couldn't bring myself to tell you everything, I'm afraid. Call it a weakness, if you like, but I look at it as protecting you."

She frowned, shaking her head as she stared up at him. "You should have just told me the truth!"

"I know, sweetheart… I would take it back if I could, but I can't… I didn't want to burden you with the terrible things I knew… Things that would have hurt you worse than you'd already experienced…" He lifted his hand from her back and reached down next to the chair he was sitting in, withdrawing a sealed envelope, and handing it to her. He smiled sadly as she took it. "It's a confession… My last stories I never got to tell you, including the truth about your mother."

"M-My…mother…" How long it had been since she'd thought of Lorelei… She sometimes wondered if she'd even recognize her if she saw her in person. "Daddy, please… Don't leave me…"

Roland sighed wearily, feeling his body shutting down. "I wish I didn't have to, Amber… But my time has ended. But I'll always be with you…" He reached up to her, tapping the brooch she wore around her neck. "Right in your heart."

The trio had only a few remaining moments left, softly speaking, when the spirit of Sofia appeared beside Lorelei. She looked just as she had in life, but with her own white gown and her hair flowing freely behind her for a change. She looked at Lorelei, who nodded.

Amber gasped as she saw Roland's eyes slowly closing, and while holding his hand, she could feel his grip lessen considerably. With one final 'I love you' whispered, she watched her father slowly slip away, dying far more peacefully than she'd ever imagined he'd get to experience. For that, she was grateful, but still… This stung so painfully. She sobbed openly, anguish filling her heart, as Desmond dropped beside her and wrapped her in his embrace. "Daddy… No…!"

Roland's spirit was lifted from his earthly form, and both of his hands were held by Lorelei on his right and Sofia on his left, and he followed them into the great beyond, where all the other spirits of those who'd passed before him were celebrating. In this form, he felt no pain, no fear, and no uncertainty. He was finally released from those shackles. "I never imagined…"

Sofia released his hand and joined the other departed spirits, especially Cedric and Greylock, who were cheering about something while dancing with Merlin.

"I wish this could be true for the world," Roland murmured to Lorelei, who looked at him. "I just hope for a better world, for my…"

She smiled. "For our daughter…" She looked at him, grasping both of his hands. "For our son-in-law… And for the child who grows in Amber's womb now…" She nodded as he gasped. "You helped make the world a better place, Roland, whether you realized it or not. I can finally have my own hope for their future, because of you."

He allowed himself to smile as he wrapped her in his embrace, like he'd often regretted not getting to do all those years ago. "Thank you, Lorelei…"

"Thank you, Roland…"

The end (story-wise)

To be continued…

Next Chapter: A Bit of Light