Throughout Cedric and Greylock's stealthy walk from the dungeon to the guest rooms, multiple thoughts clouded Cedric's mind, keeping him company through the general silence. For one, the grandfather clock they had passed just that last corner reminded him of how much time had passed. He hadn't thought so much time had gone by and feared being questioned by King Roland. Perhaps he could say he got lost and could not find his way back to the group. Roland would likely believe it- despite being on better terms with Cedric, he was still lacking as much confidence in the royal sorcerer as Cedric would have hoped. He could also claim how he felt ill, and for that reason had left to find his room. That was not entirely a lie- all the time since rescuing Greylock from the dungeon, he felt his stomach turning. Still, the king would not be pleased that he had disobeyed his curfew. He figured the 'being lost' excuse was a better route to take.
The thought of any castle guards being commanded to search for him was also prevalent, as was it reasonable. Cedric worried about this, and what they would say if he was found wandering about the castle with Greylock at his side. Over an hour had passed since leaving the royals, and Cedric was almost certain the tour would be over at this point.
He was also unsure where his guest room was. Cedric figured that his room would surely be a distance away from the royal family given that he was of lower royalty status. He had also never visited King Magnus' castle before today, so directions were proving to be difficult. Had Greylock not been with him to lead the way at times, Cedric was sure he really would be lost.
As they reached the correct room, Cedric noticed a wooden sign with his name carved out. He turned to look at the other man with a raised eyebrow.
"The staff puts the first names of visitors on the front door to their rooms," Greylock informed.
Cedric hummed at the wooden nameplate. "Enchancia doesn't do this," He commented
He smiled. "Rumor has it that you get your full title in wood if you're recurring enough." He added.
Cedric was humored by the castle rumor. "But no one's been recurring enough for you to find out?" He asked.
"Exactly that, yes," Greylock said with a laugh. "Not that it should come as much of a surprise."
"It doesn't," Cedric replied, grasping the doorknob.
The door opened to reveal an elegant bedroom with a four-poster bed easily in sight. The bed was at the lefthand side of the room and partway across from the door. To the right was a dresser and vanity, as well as a door to the bathroom. There were two windows spaced out between each other with cream-colored curtains. Overall, the room had a fair amount of space in it while not feeling overwhelming by any means.
Cedric was pleased to see that his luggage for the trip had been delivered to his room and placed against the side of the nightstand. He started toward his bag while Greylock shut the door. He removed his shoes, placing them at the side of the wall beside the doorframe before following behind Cedric. As he grew closer, he began to focus on the wooden designs carved at the sides of the bed.
"This is very nice," He commented, trailing his finger along a particular spiral design. "Even my room didn't have such intricate carvings like this," He said, letting his hand depart from the wood.
Cedric pulled out the book he had packed, Thursdays with Merlin, from his bag and held it in his hand. He took a moment to look at the details Greylock was taking note of. "Yes, I suppose it keeps up a good appearance." He said, afterward placing his book on the nightstand.
"The castle always puts a grand deal of thought into how they present their rooms," Greylock informed, leaning over to sink one hand into the mattress. He looked up at Cedric. "May I?"
"Go on."
Greylock perked up at the response and unexpectedly took a few steps backward, causing Cedric to raise an eyebrow. "Marvelous! Although, I can't promise I'll be able to get back up." He jested, flashing the Enchancian a grin.
Cedric folded his arms with a smirk. "Don't make me change my mind," He warned.
Greylock rushed back towards the bed, leaping forward at the bed's end and landing face-down into a soft pillow. He let out a groan of relief at the overwhelming softness.
Taken aback by the way Greylock launched himself onto the mattress, Cedric stood with wide eyes. A slight smile came to him. "You're mad," He claimed, sitting down on the mattress beside Greylock. His smile grew wider as he began to laugh heartily.
Greylock smiled warmly as the other man laughed. He hadn't really heard Cedric truly laugh before, and to hear it now was more than pleasant to him. He felt himself blush while admiring how nice Cedric looked with a smile on his face.
As soon as the Enchancian looked back at him, Greylock cleared his throat. He did not meet Cedric's gaze while opting to change the subject.
"So," He started, running a hand through his hair before his eyes returned to Cedric's. "You have yet to explain the mishaps with your raven," He commented.
"Oh," Cedric began in realization. He raised an eyebrow. You're still curious about that?" He questioned. He was a bit surprised at this.
"Very much, actually," Greylock said. He could not put a finger on if his reasoning was entirely out of interest or if he also wanted a topic change.
"Well, I suppose there are a few layers to it," He began, recalling past events. "We ended up taking a trip back to Hexley Hall with Princess Sofia, and a potion spilling on Wormwood gave him the ability to speak," He started.
Greylock was taken aback. "A talking animal?" He quizzed, placing his arms behind himself and leaning back. "That's certainly not something you see every day," He mumbled.
"No, I should say not," Cedric replied. He folded his arms. "Wormwood wasn't very helpful when he could speak- always critiquing my work in my tower and revealing secrets, ratting me out, foiling my plans..." He trailed off, a bitterness rising in his tone.
Greylock blinked back in surprise.
The Enchancian quickly realized his tone and cleared his throat. "But er... I suppose that turned out to be for the better. The real mishap was when he betrayed me." He said, folding his arms.
"Betrayed?" Greylock repeated. He began to laugh. "You were betrayed by a bird?" He questioned, humored by this. Cedric looked back at him with a scowl, and with widened eyes, he cleared his throat to correct his behavior. "How so?" He asked with more delicacy.
"Wormwood is a very evil bird, as it turns out," Cedric informed. "He valued evil more than our friendship, and it nearly cost us the kingdom,"
Greylock hummed. "That's a shame. I couldn't have imagined your raven would turn his back on you like that," He commented.
The Enchancian grumbled and looked away. "I absolutely can," He retorted with a sigh. "I should have seen it earlier, really," He added with a frown.
"It just seemed like you both enjoyed being by each other's sides in our school days," Greylock said.
"I thought so," Cedric mumbled.
Greylock noticed the faint look of hurt the other wore and opted to change up the subject. "Well, speaking of being at your side," He began, running a hand through his hair. "We never really made time to see each other after the jubilee," He stated.
Cedric sighed. "No, I suppose not," He said before meeting the other's eyes. "I suppose I was rather busy,"
"As was I," Greylock admitted with a faint chuckle. It faded into an uneasy sigh. "King Magnus had quite a demand for magic and required my sorcery skills very often," He said.
Cedric scoffed. "I'd prefer your reasons," He said, letting his hands fall to his side. "I was usually asked for measly favors from the children! I suppose I stopped being so bothered by it after some time, but I certainly would have preferred more chances to impress my king," He explained.
Greylock nodded. "It did seem as though your king didn't have as much faith in you as I would have assumed,"
Cedric groaned. "You haven't the faintest idea," He lamented. "Good to know it's so obvious," He added with an eye roll.
The other sorcerer frowned a bit. He didn't mean to continuously poke at touchy subjects.
"About your king," Greylock began again, earning him an unpleased look from Cedric. "It was very kind of him to allow me to visit Enchancia and go to that jubilee," He said, opting to lay back down- this time on his back- with his hands resting on his stomach.
Cedric gave a defeated sigh and nodded. "Yes, I suppose it was," He agreed, getting back on Greylock's level by moving to lay propped up on his side. He tilted his head a bit. "It seems like you keep bringing up Enchancia," He added.
"Your kingdom is so beautiful," Greylock added with a small smile.
Cedric hesitantly nodded at the comment. "It... is."
"Truly, I feel as though I should have visited more often back when I had the chance," Greylock continued. "It would have been nice having more time to take in all of its... beauty," He said before looking over at the other man whose eyes looked off into the distance. There was a short pause before Cedric looked back at him. Greylock quickly looked down at the comforter. "A-All the sights from above, you know? They looked very pretty," He said, laughing awkwardly.
Cedric gave a single shrug. "Yes, the trees look quite nice from up there," He agreed. He raised a brow hesitantly. "Why are you bringing all of this up?" He asked.
The sorcerer stumbled over his words for a moment. "Well, I'm just thinking if..," He started slowly. He paused and took a moment to rephrase: "Do you think Enchancia would have me?" He asked, glancing over at Cedric again before looking back up.
Cedric was silent for a moment, staring at him after the comment. Staying on his side, he folded his arms. "What are you getting at, Greylock?" Cedric questioned with an unpleasant tone. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'm only saying that it might be a nice kingdom to reside in," Greylock said, fiddling slightly with his folded hands. "It could be very good for me, starting anew in a different kingdom," He continued.
"That's quite a thing to 'only say'," Cedric replied as a twinge of worry ran through him.
Greylock sighed. "I suppose it may be," He agreed. A small smile found its way back to his face, "But just think about it- I could start fresh with a new life, a-and go on without fear of being taken back to that... that dungeon," He said, the end rolling bitterly off his tongue as his smile faded.
"...You can't be asking what I think you are," Cedric said hesitantly, leaning back a bit.
Greylock looked to face him and noticed the hesitance. "I know it's a lot to... uh... ask?" He began once more, pausing as he saw the sudden fire growing in the other man's eyes.
"Of course it's a lot to ask!" Cedric snapped, his suddenly raised tone taking Greylock by surprise. "You hit the nail on the head with that one, didn't you? Are you trying to get me into trouble?" He angrily questioned.
Greylock gave a quick shake of his head, turning toward Cedric on his side. "No, no, of course not!" He replied, putting his hand out slightly. "I would never want that to come for you from all of this. I understand how worried you are-"
"Don't tell me you understand- you don't!" Cedric cried. His glare was piercing.
"Okay, but do you understand mine?" Greylock then shot back. "I'm a criminal here, Cedric, I have nowhere to go!"
The Enchancian got up and began pacing. He cradled his head in his hand. "I shouldn't have gotten myself into this mess," He spoke aloud to himself. "King Roland has just recently trusted me again- more than he ever has! I can't bring an Order of the Wand cohort to Enchancia," He continued.
Greylock sighed. "Cedric," He began with a calmer tone.
"How would I take you there, anyway, how?" The mentioned cried, his voice showing no signs of quieting.
The question brought Greylock to another silence. "Well, I'm sure there's... s-something that could be done," He tried.
Cedric huffed, clenching his hands to fists as they dropped to his sides. He stopped pacing and stared at the other man. "This is worse than everything you've ever teased me about combined," He lamented with an expression of hurt.
Greylock's eyes widened at the comment. He was rendered speechless and had a look of sympathy on his face. "I..," He started, not sure of a response to give. He wasn't sure there was one.
"Perhaps it's my own fault for putting myself in this situation to begin with, but I cannot do this anymore- I am done helping you!" He cried, his body trembling.
Greylock was stunned into silence at the way Cedric shook, as well as the reaction in itself he gave. It was one of which he had never seen in such severity before. He may have asked for more elaboration, as well, if the time was right. He knew there were some things from the past that he regretted, but he never thought Cedric would feel so strongly about anything he had done.
The uncomfortable silence was short-lived as the two heard a knocking on the door. Cedric gasped and stared at the door with wide eyes.
"Someone's here," He whispered, then turning to look at Greylock. The man's eyes were darting worriedly around the room, wondering where to move to. A second knock came, and he jolted.
"Mr. Cedric?" A young voice called out from behind the door.
"It's Princess Sofia," Cedric said, scrambling off the bed. He looked back at Greylock, glaring at him when he saw he was still sitting there. The Enchancian motioned him away with his hands. "Hide!" He commanded in a whisper.
In a panic, Greylock laid down and rolled off the bed's side. He fell down to the floor with a 'thud', groaning in pain after hitting the hard floor. Cedric rolled his eyes before rushing over to the door and opening it with a sigh.
"Do you need something, princess?" Cedric questioned, looking down at the girl.
"I was worried when you never came back earlier, so I wanted to come and check on you!" Sofia explained.
The sorcerer hummed. "How very kind of you," He responded, offering her a small smile before leaning on the doorframe. He folded his arms. "I'm afraid I was feeling a bit ill earlier. I wouldn't have wanted to get you or your family feeling queasy, as well," He lied.
"Oh! That's okay, I understand," Sofia said with a wave of her hand. "If you want, I can go tell my dad-"
"No!"
Sofia's eyes widened at the sudden response. Cedric too noticed his sudden outburst and gave an uncomfortable chuckle. He cleared his throat. "That's very thoughtful, princess, but do spare yourself the trouble," Cedric rejected while putting a hand up in dismissal. "I'll be sure and speak to your father in the morning," He assured, waving his hand toward the girl as if to politely shoo her away. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a... book to get back to," He said, removing himself from the doorframe.
The princess gasped, remaining in place despite being dismissed. "Oh! One more thing," She continued, putting a finger up.
Cedric gave a strained smile in response. "Of course," He encouraged in a not-so-inviting tone.
"Remember this morning when I said our original chauffeur wasn't feeling good?" The girl questioned.
The sorcerer slumped at the topic. "Yes, I remember," He said, putting a hand on his hip.
"Well, it turns out that the one who took us isn't feeling very good now, either!" Sofia informed as though the information was just as interesting as she had thought.
"And... why are you telling me this?" Cedric asked, sporting a look of boredom that the princess did not notice.
"If you're not feeling well, and they aren't feeling well, I think my mom will get worried," Sofia replied. "And I don't think my dad wants to keep replacing them with backups." She added.
Cedric hummed. "Yes, that sounds like quite the enigma, my dear. Chauffeurs, and especially royal sorcerers, aren't so easy to... um... replace..." He said, his sentence trailing off at the last bit.
Sofia frowned. "I hope everyone feels better before Aunt Tilly's visit," She said, taking a step back. A smile arose on her face once more. "Well, goodnight, Mr. Cedric!" She said, waving to the sorcerer before walking away.
"Yes, yes, yes. Goodnight, princess," Cedric responded in a hurry. He hadn't taken notice of Sofia mentioning Tilly. He quickly shut his door when the girl left, turning around and pacing in small circles around the front of the room. He stared down at the floor as he walked, his mind in deep thought.
A minute passed before Greylock peered up from the side of the bed. He looked around a bit more before asking, "Is she gone?"
His sudden question snapped Cedric out of his train of thought. He looked over at the other man and nodded. "Er- yes, she is," He confirmed. His pacing stopped, although he did walk closer toward his side of the bed. He looked up at Greylock as the sorcerer readjusted himself.
"On second thought, Greylock..," Cedric started, scratching the back of his neck before clasping his hands behind his back. "I may have an idea."
Garo had exited the dungeon sooner than Greylock and Cedric- in their case, they had kept themselves at a walking pace while having a conversation. Garo, who was on his own in leaving the dungeon's confines, had made quick work of leaving. He ended up needing to stop for a moment to allow the others to continue on their way in front of him. Despite being freed, he did not wish to be seen just yet. He figured that saving his sudden appearance for the king would be a significantly grander reaction.
"What if you're noticed, Greylock?"
"Activity in the castle usually settles down rather early in the evening. The coast should be relatively clear for us,"
"Yes, yes, alright. But what if?"
Garo rolled his eyes at the back-and-forth conversation the two were having just as they were leaving up the stairs of the dungeon. He hoped to see that they were caught due to speaking too much. Surely their conversation could get them caught. He waited at the bottom of the stairs, listening carefully to the footsteps growing further away. Garo began to move once more once he no longer heard their steps.
He still had the wand in hand when he reached the top of the stairs. He peered out of the entrance, double-checking that the coast would be clear. During this, he caught sight of the two sorcerers quickly leaving.
Greylock suddenly came to a stop in front of the large painting. "Now, this is strange," He started, pointing at the artwork.
Cedric also stopped in his tracks and raised a brow. "What is?" He asked, looking up at the painting. He suddenly cringed at himself, realizing he hadn't readjusted the elegant curtains draping over the painting's sides.
"It's just that they had this painting covered up for the longest time," Greylock responded. "Slickwell's side was covered for a while, and mine was also concealed when I was sent to the dungeon," He said, folding his hands behind his back.
Cedric looked away with wide eyes. "How strange," He said. "Let's go,"
The other sorcerer nodded and followed Cedric away from the painting.
As they left, Garo noticed how close Cedric's robe got to the ground. He would applaud the man for managing a robe so low, although a mean trick outweighed his surprise. The clone raised his wand with a smirk, pointing it toward the Enchancian's robe. A beam of magic hit the front of the garment, pulling the corner down just enough to where he stepped on it.
With a surprised exclamation, Cedric fell forward. To Garo's disappointment, however, the sorcerer hadn't fallen to the floor. Greylock had also noticed how his robe nearly trailed the ground and was able to act just in time. He stopped in his tracks and put his arm out to stop Cedric from falling. The sorcerer gripped his outstretched arm with a gasp at the scare. He blinked in surprise before standing up straight with a scowl.
"Are you alright?" Greylock questioned, bringing his arm back beside himself.
"I'm perfectly fine," Cedric replied, adjusting his robe. "I just want to be on our way," He added as he began to walk once more.
Greylock nodded. "Right," He agreed, following beside the Enchancian. He could sense the slight embarrassment the other was feeling about the accident. A part of him had seen it coming, although he couldn't fault the other man. On the other hand, he wondered if Cedric regularly tripped over his sorcery robe.
Garo huffed at the save. He was unsure of what caused Greylock to react fast enough and foil his trick on Cedric. Surely, he couldn't tell precisely what he was thinking- they were two opposite figures now. Perhaps gut feeling was to blame, or a quick reaction time. He supposed both would make sense, although he wondered if Greylock would get in the way of his wicked plans if they were to share anything of the sort. The clone contemplated playing more tricks to test this theory but dismissed the thought- the risk was too great at this point in time.
Besides, he had a more important objective right now. His main objective was to confront the king, although he was also considering stopping by the sorcery workshop. With it being empty of a royal sorcerer, there would certainly be plenty of supplies that could be used to his advantage. He snuck away from the dungeon, looking around before crossing the open hallway the others were leaving from.
Garo paused and peered out from the hallway's corner, looking over at Greylock. He figured there was room for one more trick. With a flick of his wand, he sent a second beam of magic in his direction. Greylock tripped over his shoe as a result, falling to the floor. Cedric stopped and looked down at him with wide eyes.
"Be careful," Cedric said, looking around with unease. Greylock pushed himself up to a kneeling position before standing up.
"I suppose I need to watch my step, as well," He said with a chuckle, brushing himself off.
Garo laughed at the result of his successful trick, the sound coming out louder than he would have wished. He quickly put a hand over his mouth and moved away from view, proceeding to the sorcery workshop.
This particular day had Cedric thrown onto a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions. This morning, he never could have guessed the eventful day in front of him, let alone who he had agreed to take back to Enchancia with him. Yes, as unlikely as it had seemed, the sorcerer did agree to help Greylock leave the kingdom. If people were rewarded points for acts of kindness to others, Cedric was sure he would be rolling in them. His compliance to Greylock's wishes shocked even himself. Cedric still considered himself on the fence about his status with Greylock. He supposed they were friends- they had to be if Cedric was helping him with such a risky series of escapes. He couldn't quite forget their past together, however; Greylock often teased him in their days at Hexley Hall.
Kindness is exhausting, Cedric thought to himself.
Despite this, Cedric knew that what he was doing for Greylock was still ultimately wrong. He was not particularly doing the right thing, but he also knew that it was, in its own way, for the greater good.
Greylock was preparing himself for sleep. He had placed his shoes away from the door and instead beside the bed, now removing his blue robe. Cedric was rustling through his suitcase to find his nightclothes and toothbrush.
"Do you really think me taking your chauffeur's place to Enchancia will work?" Greylock questioned. This was the idea they had discussed, as it wouldn't require a near-impossible attempt to hide the other sorcerer in the carriage along with the royal family. Greylock was also not a stranger to driving a carriage. He had done it on a few occasions before with winged horses, and countless more with regular horses while growing up.
Cedric closed his luggage and placed his desired items down on the bed. "In theory, yes, but... I don't know," He said, placing his hands on the mattress and hanging his head for a moment. "I certainly hope so," He added, quieter.
Neatly folding his robe, Greylock gave a monotone hum. "It can't be that difficult- it's not like the others would be expecting it," He said, placing the robe down on the floor beside his shoes. He then moved back onto the bed, moving over to Cedric's side with the nightstand and gesturing to it. "Do you mind if I put my monocle here?" He asked.
Cedric allowed it and moved to untie his robe. "We can't stay for long in the morning. The royal family is usually up rather early, and I don't think Roland wants to stay here much longer," He said.
"Right," Greylock replied. That wouldn't be much of a problem. He brought his hands up toward his face to remove his monocle but stopped himself as he noticed Cedric removing his robe. The man's clothes clung rather close to his body, not nearly as loose as he preferred his own. But it worked so well for Cedric, he thought, and the outfit under that robe of his suited him nicely. His figure had some nice curves, too, and...
Greylock noticed that he was starting to stare. His face flushed as he looked away, internally kicking himself for making such a deal of the other man in his head. He lifted the skin around his eye and removed the monocle, unclipping it from his shirt. He looked down at the nightstand and placed the monocle atop it, a safe distance away from Cedric's belongings.
The Enchancian took the luggage belongings he had put out into one hand, grabbing his robe with the other. Beside the bathroom was a horizontal, wooden rack of hooks that hung on the wall. He walked over to hang the purple robe up on it, afterward heading into the bathroom to change.
Cedric came back out a few minutes later, dressed in a purple V-neck T-shirt with his first name initial on the shirt in yellow. He wore no gloves but kept on a pair of tall socks, as well as white shorts with stars, moons, and small polka dots on them. His necktie was also discarded- he tossed it overtop his hanging robe. Greylock had also removed some clothes, now wearing a more simplified version of his typical outfit- tall socks, pants, and the yellow button-up. He was back on his side of the bed- the right side- laying down with his head propped up a bit. He noticed Cedric's pajamas and chuckled.
"I wasn't expecting that," Greylock commented.
Cedric scowled as he walked back over toward the mattress. "Well, what were you expecting?" He asked, putting his hands on his hips.
"I don't think I had anything specific in mind," The other man replied.
"Well, they're quite comfortable, I'll have you know!" Cedric stated, folding up a side of the comforter before sitting down. "And I wasn't expecting I'd have company," He added, seeming a bit embarrassed now.
Greylock smiled. "Oh, not to worry, I don't mind it! Besides, this is nothing compared to some of the night attire I had," He said with a chuckle.
Cedric turned to look at him. "What did you have?" He asked.
"I had some really cozy duckling slippers I sometimes liked to wear around at night," He answered, glancing back at the other. He noticed the other crack a smile.
"Surely not,"
"I did!"
"What, they had the webbed feet?" Cedric questioned.
Greylock shook his head. "No, no, they were full-on ducks! Not real, of course, but they had the look to them. There were holes on their backs that you would slide into." He explained.
Cedric shook his head, still smiling a bit. "Greylock, that's so stupid," He stated, pulling the covers over himself and lying down.
"I don't mind stupid," Greylock replied, mirroring the other sorcerer's actions. He looked back at Cedric and smirked. "My matching duck quill holder... quacked a while back," He continued, flashing the other a smile.
The Enchancian stared deadpan at him for a moment before rolling his eyes. "I hate you," He said, turning himself around so his back faced the other.
"Come on, I think that was quite good," Greylock said.
"No, it was dreadful," Cedric retorted, pulling the blanket up until it rested just under his arm. "Goodnight," He said, clapping twice to turn out the lights in the room. The lights from the room were distinguished, only the lights intruding from under the door and through the window keeping them from total darkness.
Greylock turned away from the other man and got himself comfortable. He gave a sly smirk when saying, "Goodnight, Bedsick,"
Cedric groaned lowly at the nickname, causing Greylock to chuckle. He nestled into the pillow and closed his eyes.
It felt so good to lie down in a comfortable bed again. After the months he had spent in the dungeon, confined in a cell with an uncomfortable sleeping arrangement, this was a delightful upgrade. It did feel a bit odd, not only because it had been some time since he had slept in a comfortable bed, but also because of the additional person under the covers. He hadn't anticipated sharing a bed with a friend- Cedric, of all people- when he'd woken up this morning.
Cedric showing up was nothing short of a miracle, Greylock thought. He wondered what Cedric was thinking. The man had shown a handful of emotions to him within the day, but now it was a mystery. Perhaps Cedric was thinking similar thoughts. Perhaps he was wondering about the duck objects Greylock had mentioned. The man opened his eyes at this and turned to look behind him.
"I-I never actually had a quill holder that looked like a duck," Greylock admitted. "It was purely for the punchline."
"I figured," Cedric mumbled, keeping his eyes shut.
Greylock gave a nod and began to turn his head around just before stopping himself. He looked back at the Enchancian again. "I did have the duck slippers, though." He clarified. "That was true. And they were very-"
"Greylock," Cedric groaned, opening his eyes with a sigh. He shot the other man a look. "Really, we must go to sleep," He stated.
The other sorcerer nodded, smiling sheepishly. "Right- um- sorry," He responded, turning back around. "Sweet dreams!" He tried.
"Not likely," Cedric responded.
Greylock's expression went neutral. He adjusted the blanket back to his liking, nestling the side of his face back into the pillow. The two shut their eyes once more. Their thoughts both diminished soon enough, falling into their slumbers.
The morning went by smoothly. Cedric had woken up first, remembering exactly the events of the day before as he heard a soft sound of snoring beside himself. Greylock had turned about in the night, now facing toward him while sleeping on his stomach. His arms hugged loosely around his pillow, and he generally looked at peace. Cedric figured he would wait a bit longer before disrupting his slumber, instead opting to prepare for the day.
It didn't take long before he returned from the bathroom into the main room, now dressed in his regular attire. Cedric packed his pajamas and book back away into his suitcase before going to wake the other man. He leaned over, placing his hands on the mattress and saying his name only to receive no response.
"Greylock," Cedric tried again, a bit louder that time. The sorcerer shifted but did not wake.
Cedric rolled his eyes, leaning further and reaching out. He placed a hand on Greylock's shoulder, shaking him and calling his name a third time. Greylock shifted once more, giving a soft moan as his eyes began to open. He looked up at Cedric, blinking twice out of slight surprise all before remembering where he was. After Cedric retracted his hand, Greylock rolled over onto his back, putting a hand to his face and rubbing his eyes.
"I'm afraid we haven't got much time to spare," Cedric said.
Greylock let his hand fall to his stomach and looked back at him. "You look ready," He commented, his voice coming out as more of a mumble.
"Well, I should be. Not much time, didn't you hear?" Cedric replied, stepping back and putting a hand on his hip.
"Right," Greylock said, running a hand through the top of his hair.
Cedric looked down at his suitcase and bent down to properly close it. "Besides, I figured you could... use the extra rest," He muttered, propping his suitcase against the wall.
Greylock pulled himself up to a sitting with a sigh, resting his forearms on his knees. "How considerate of you,"
"Yes, it is," Cedric agreed, smiling proudly at himself. "It feels much better to catch flies with honey than with vinegar," He added.
A sly smile came to Greylock's face as he looked at Cedric. "Oh, you're trying to catch me?" He asked, laughing.
Cedric's brows quickly furrowed as he met the other man's gaze. He grimaced at the suggestion. "Of course not," He dismissed, breaking eye contact and walking over toward the windows. Greylock's smile fell to a slight frown at the blatantly rejective response. He couldn't entirely put his finger on why. Perhaps it was general disappointment in not being seen as attractive. As far as he could tell, he couldn't see a life like that with the man, either. He did take kindly to the idea of spending countless days by his friend's side, though- and he did find Cedric to be a rather attractive man...
Was... this something he needed to think about later?
His thoughts blanked as the room swarmed with light. Cedric threw open the window curtains that had not been left open. Greylock cringed and closed his eyes.
"Well, come on!" Cedric chastised, folding his arms.
And so, after a few minutes, they were off. Once more they were sneaking about the castle halls, with much more means for concern as the rest of the castle was beginning to wake up. They managed to briefly sneak into the display room Cedric was familiar with. Greylock wasted no time in taking back his typical wand from its glass display case.
Cedric had at first discouraged the idea of coming into the room after hearing Magnus explain yesterday how heavily it was guarded throughout the day. He was proven wrong in this regard when they ended up seeing no guards. He wondered if King Magnus had either bluffed (He shouldn't have much reason to, as there were plenty of castle guards) or if it was simply too early in the morning. His pondering distinguished as they left the display room. Greylock put his wand into the sleeve of his robe.
As they rushed through a long hallway, Greylock pointed out a low window near the end of the hallway.
"The ground is low enough," He started. "We could escape through the window,"
"Ah, yes. And when you break your leg, I suppose I'll be rushing you to our royal medic?" Cedric sassily questioned.
Greylock sighed. "Come on," He guided, continuing on. Cedric followed behind him until they came to a stop at the window. Cedric looked down and, to his relief, the fall really was not far. It was only about half the size of himself. Still, worry ran through him at the thought of leaving the castle in this way. He gulped as Greylock opened the window.
"Ladies first," The sorcerers said in unison.
"Absolutely not," Cedric rejected, folding his arms. "It was your idea,"
Greylock shrugged, humored by the childish follow-up remark. "If you insist," He replied, glancing down and out of the window. There was a long, horizontal line of bushes in front of them with a pathway of dirt between the bushes and the wall. Greylock sat on the windowsill before carefully hopping down, landing on the soil ground behind the bushes.
The morning air had a slight chill to it while grey clouds floated in the sky. From the look of the clouds and smell in the air, it seemed as though it was about to rain. The bulky bushes had small drops of dew on them. Several of these droplets absorbed themselves into Cedric's robe as he fell from the window, his jump landing him partway onto the hedge-like plant. Greylock cringed.
"Are you alright?" He asked, pulling Cedric back from the plant. The Enchancian rubbed his head with a hand, nodding nonetheless. He took a step back and straightened out his robe.
"I'm not much of a window-jumper," Cedric said, putting his hands on his hips. "Although you must be, it seems," He added.
Greylock pursed his lips. "Not really, no," He replied.
Cedric slumped slightly. "Well, I-I lost my balance," He claimed in a quiet tone. The other man gave a humored smile at this. Cedric huffed at Greylock's reaction and instead looked around. "Right, what now?"
Greylock also looked around them, humming after a moment. "Well... I don't see any sign of your chauffeur," He started slowly.
The Enchancian looked to his left and noticed the front doors of the castle were not too far. "Perhaps we should wait by the door," He suggested. "He may come out of there shortly."
Greylock's expression brightened slightly. "Oh, yes, you're right. Good idea, Cedric!" He praised, gesturing walking along the castle walls while still staying hidden from the bushes.
Cedric stopped for a moment and looked at the other man. A small smile came upon his face. "Oh, well... thank you," He said, although Greylock had not heard him. He then moved to follow behind him as they snuck closer to the door.
Greylock kept his eyes toward the ground to not step on anything that would crunch or make too much noise. Cedric, on the other hand, looked up and forward to see how close they were to the door. As they got close to the entrance's stairs, the sorcerer noticed one of the doors swing open. Cedric gasped and stopped in his tracks, grabbing for Greylock's hand to stop him.
Greylock halted his steps and turned to look behind him at their hands. He blushed a bit at the sight, although Cedric's alarmed expression wiped any thoughts on the gesture out of his mind.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Someone's coming," Cedric whispered, pointing to the door. Greylock quickly turned to look at the top of the staircase to see that, sure enough, a man was exiting the castle. Cedric got a closer look and his eyes widened. "That's him," He informed, taking his hand back by his side.
Greylock proceeded forward a bit more, peering between a slight separation of two bushes. On the ground and through the bushes was an elegant pathway of intricately placed stones. Cedric watched the guard walk out of sight, prompting him to poke his head above Greylock's. He looked to the side, poking his head out a bit to see the chauffeur walking on the path. Greylock also noticed this.
"I'm going to pull him back," He stated, looking up at Cedric. The Enchancian hummed in slight unease at the plan but nodded. He knew it was what they had to do. Cedric bent down beside himself and picked up a small rock. He pushed Greylock to the side before raising his arm to throw the stone. He did not have a spectacular aim when it came to throwing things but chose to take the gamble. With a hushed grunt, he threw the stone.
The chauffeur noticed how something quickly crossed his line of sight. He stopped in his tracks and turned, looking around himself. He looked at the carriage to check on the royals' attendance only to see that they were not yet outside.
Cedric hid back behind the bushes after getting the chauffeur's attention. He looked over and gave a nod to Greylock who then returned to his original position. He took in a breath before stepping out of the greens, instead standing just behind the distracted man. Greylock quickly wrapped one arm across the man's shoulders as his other covered his mouth before he could make a sound. He pulled him back with a yank and dragged the man behind the bushes. Cedric watched with wide eyes.
"I'm terribly sorry about this," Greylock said, removing the hand from his mouth to reach for his wand.
The chauffeur squirmed in his grasp. He began to speak loudly; "What is the meaning of thi-?" He hollered before his sentence was cut short by Cedric. The sorcerer had cringed at the loud tone and moved to cover his mouth once more. The chauffeur caught sight of the man through his glare which turned to squinted eyes. He recognized this man- wasn't he Enchancia's royal sorcerer?
"Slumberum!" Greylock whispered with confidence, pointing his wand at the stranger. The man's squirming slowed as the chauffeur grew tired, eventually laying limp in the sorcerer's arms. Greylock slowly released his grip, kneeling as he lowered him to the ground.
Cedric was breathing faster now. "I think he noticed me," He told Greylock, looking down at him with worry.
"Are you sure?" The other sorcerer asked, briefly looking up at him before removing the chauffeur's coat.
Cedric shook his head with unease. "Not entirely," He admitted, holding the coat Greylock handed to him. "Regularly, I would certainly hope he'd know who I am, being that I'm the royal sorcerer to King Roland," He grumbled, clenching the coat in his hands a bit. "But now I am hoping someone wouldn't recognize me," He added.
"Your ego is coming in loud and clear," Greylock teased.
"You shouldn't be talking to me about my ego!" Cedric snapped back, folding his arms. His reaction was short-lived as there were more garments tossed in his direction. Lastly came the hat, which Greylock stood up to put on Cedric's head. He looked down at the sleeping man. Although he was still decent in a tank top and undergarments, the sorcerer worried about the weather becoming unpleasant for him. He took his wand back out and conjured a blanket, placing it down overtop the man.
The Enchancian scowled a bit as Greylock discarded his robe and put it into his arms. He was given a sheepish smile.
"I apologize for all of the things you're having to hold," Greylock said, taking back the chauffeur's shirt and putting it on over his typical clothes.
Cedric stared as the other sorcerer buttoned up the shirt. "You're putting the clothes over your regular ones?" He asked in surprise.
Greylock gave a nod. "Yes, I'd like to keep them." He replied, taking back his robe and putting it back on.
"Can't you use your magic?" Cedric questioned just as the other man grabbed for the chauffeur's coat. He stopped.
"Well..," He started, thinking on this for a moment. He gave a quick shake of his head. "What's done is done," He said, putting on the coat over his sorcerer's robe.
Cedric put his hands on his hips. "You're ridiculous," He said.
Greylock offered him a shrug in response. "Quite lucky of us to have chilled weather out today," He said. "And I don't believe we've ever been strangers to layers in warm conditions," He added, glancing down and adjusting the coat. He looked back up at Cedric. "How does this look?" He questioned.
"Just fine," Cedric replied. The two noticed the doors to the castle being opened once more, King Roland and Queen Miranda stepping out. Cedric noticed his own suitcase in the mix and quickly ducked away from the other's view. He looked at Greylock with wide eyes. "You don't think they noticed anything left in my room, do you?" He quietly asked.
Greylock shook his head. "I doubt there would be any significant tracing of me being there," He answered. "And it's not like I could have left any belongings behind," He added.
Cedric peered over at the royal family making their way toward the carriage and looked back at Greylock. "I believe I should follow along with them, now," He said, stepping away.
Greylock nodded. "Yes, I-I'll wait for a moment and exit from the other side of these bushes," He said, adjusting his hat before walking away. Cedric watched him leave for a moment before tip-toeing out from behind the bushes. When he was sure that no one was watching him, he rushed to meet back with the royals.
Roland had an arm locked with Miranda's as they walked to the carriage. Behind them were the children, followed by a few Rudistan castle servants. Most held only a couple of suitcases in their hands, unlike the final person who held a tall stack of suitcases, struggling to keep them held up as he brought them to the carriage. Cedric had no trouble in taking this to be Princess Amber's luggage.
The sorcerer sported a faux grin as he reached the carriage. Miranda noticed Cedric's appearance beside them and had a content smile.
"Well, I suppose that's everyone," She commented, taking a double take over at the children to be sure. Her words caught Roland's attention and he too turned to the sorcerer. His unpleased expression made him gulp.
"Cedric!" The king chastised, folding his arms. The mentioned man's smile quickly fell at the tone. "I believe you owe an explanation for your disappearance yesterday evening," He stated with a stare.
"G'oh, I'm so sorry, Your Majesty," Cedric started, folding his hands together below his waist. "I'm afraid I lost my way while trying to find the ballroom," He claimed with a frown. "I-I began to feel ill just before I stumbled upon the room I was assigned." He continued, attempting to muster another smile. Internally, he was kicking himself for mixing the excuses he had thought up. He could only hope his story was still believable sounding to the king.
Roland narrowed his eyes with a hum at the sorcerer's claim. He stared hard at the man for a short moment before his expression brightened. "Oh! I see. Why didn't you just say so?" He asked with a chuckle.
Cedric would have made a comment back had he not been relieved by the more than acceptable response. He joined the king's short laugh, although his own was much more anxious sounding. Roland turned to James who began asking him questions, allowing Cedric to look around. He looked toward the front of the carriage to see Greylock approaching, adjusting his chauffeur hat. Greylock noticed himself in Cedric's gaze and, with a small smile, sent a wink in his direction.
Cedric was taken aback by the action. He offered an awkward and nervous smile in response and gave him a matching wink to their risky plan.
Roland also noticed him approaching, pleased to see their chauffeur ready to go. He turned toward his wife with a smile. "Shall we?" He asked as Greylock opened the carriage door, keeping his head down. Roland was first to enter the carriage, turning around to offer Miranda his hand. The queen smiled at her husband's gesture and entered the carriage, James and Amber following suit.
Sofia stopped briefly after her siblings to offer Greylock a smile. "Thank you!" She said with a bow before skipping into the carriage. Greylock went to tip his hat but stopped himself. He cringed and scratched the back of his neck to hide the action. Cedric noticed this and put a hand on his hip.
"Smooth," He commented with a sarcastic smirk.
"Manners never hurt anyone," Greylock mumbled.
"They might," The Enchancian replied in a sing-songy tone.
Greylock looked up at him with a deadpan expression as the royal sorcerer was last to enter. His expression curved into a mischievous smile as he swung the door closed just a moment too early. The door hit Cedric from behind and he stumbled. With a groan, he placed a hand on the free window seat as he caught his balance in the carriage. James laughed as Cedric sat down with a huff, scowling out the window as Greylock headed toward the front. Roland sighed at Cedric's supposed clumsiness, looking up at the ceiling. Miranda placed her hand atop his in comfort.
Sofia was in the middle seat across from her parents and James. She had a slight frown. "Are you okay, Mr. Cedric?" She asked.
"I'm just fine, Princess Sofia," Cedric assured, his gaze staying outside the window. He could no longer see Greylock and hoped he truly knew what he was doing.
Greylock approached the horses at the front of the carriage and ran a hand along one of their manes. The horses did not seem repulsed by him, so he stepped up onto the front seat.
Only a minute or so passed before Greylock flicked the reigns and the carriage began to move. He was rather pleased with the start of his flying. A small smile came to him as the horses extended their wings and flew the carriage up into the air.
From inside the carriage, Cedric watched as they were lifted higher into the air. He then tilted his head back against the seat, crossing his fingers within the sleeves of his robe.
Greylock kept the carriage steady as it flew. "Enchancia, here we come!"