Chapter Text
On the First Night of Wassailia, my true love gave to me, Stars and Snow in a tree
Why was it this season of all seasons Sophia felt the most affinity? Was it the spirit that brought people together irregardless their rank, irregardless their birth? Was it the short days, and long nights illuminated by candles? She wasn’t quite sure, beyond the special moment she had shared many years ago with her mother lighting the Wassailia candle.
The candle.
The candle remained the same, even in the castle. Now it was lit by the priest in the chapel while their family stood around and the members of court joined in a reverent song of thanksgiving. Then, the priest spoke the Wassailia message as the family sat in the royal box. The message was the same every year, and to Sophia it rang true today as it had for all the years before.
Her heart, felt different somehow.
Many years before when it was just her and her mother, the message kept them going. It was a message of hope, and remembrance. She thought about her father, and the stories her mother told her about him. That he was a sailor, he sailed to the edge of the world, and found the world beyond the edge of the world. Later, she would learn he died in a terrible storm that blew up from the southern isles. His body was never found, so he was never given a proper burial. It seemed harder for them, but her mother was smart. Her mother was resourceful. It’s what led them here. It’s what took them to a lonely King, who lost everything on a wish, and gained something on a wish too. Overnight, it felt like she went from being alone, to having a family and not just any family but a royal one.
A gift.
The King who would be her dad, gave her a special gift. An amulet, and that amulet opened many doors, revealed Sophia to Sophia, it showed her strength, courage, and hope. It gave her wings to fly, fins to swim, and worlds beyond worlds that were only hindered by her imagination. Her greatest story was the one she was writing now. Her own.
Now, the amulet was just a reminder of that story.
The service concluded, with a song, and a candlelit procession. It was Sophia’s favorite part. They walked two by two out of the chapel and into the freshly fallen snow among the evergreens where they met with the rest of the village and shared their light. Soon, the sky started to fill with light as floating lanterns rose up into the clear, star filled, sky. Sophia leaned against her mother her face glowing in a wide smile. She had returned for Wassalia from her time in the EverRealm with the Protectors. She had grown since she left, some would even say she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, an observation not lost on those in the court.
Princess Amber also had grown into her role as the future Queen of Enchancia, while James was a year away from earning his spurs as knight of the realm. He had taken after his father, broad in shoulder and warm in laugh. He wore the armor well, but more importantly, his support of his sister in Sophia’s absence was felt. Amber, beautiful like her mother Queen Lorelei, had many who wished to court her, and King Roland was grateful James vetted each potential suitor before they even had a chaperoned audience with his sister. Only the best for Amber, and to Sophia’s surprise, Amber was ok with that arrangement.
Sophia’s return for the holiday season gave Amber an excuse to have a bigger party than usual, and no expense was spared. Although Sophia would have preferred a smaller, more intimate affair, she also knew Amber never did things in halves. So, she stole a few moments with her mother watching the floating lanterns dance across the sky.
“I’m glad you’re home Sophie,” her mother whispered giving Sophia’s hand a small squeeze.
“I’m glad to be home.” Sophia replied returning the squeeze.
XXX
They returned to the great hall of the castle, where a magnificent tree was magically illuminated by the Royal Sorcerer, he had gone all out this year. Floating crystal chandeliers, and dripping crystals from the caverns beneath the castle illuminated the shining ballroom into a winter wonder, the roof he transformed into the sky with an illusionary spell complete with rotating constellations, to Amber’s delight, and random shooting stars. A fire blazed in the hearth draped with frosted greenery twisted with fine golden threads that were beaded with icy crystals which caught and refracted the light against tulle ribbons.
Sophia inhaled sharply when she stepped into the room, King Roland applauded, and the applause was echoed with cheers for the Royal Sorcerer.
He was good. Really good.
She always knew it, but tonight felt.. different. She felt out of place here. Suddenly aware that she was still wearing her Protector uniform, she rubbed her arm and glanced over at her family. Her mother took her place by her step-father’s side, James and Amber also joined them with Aunt Tilly and Sir Bartleby. It seemed like everyone was there, everyone she knew growing up, who grew up with her. Even her friends from Royal Prep were there, albeit older, like her. She saw her friend Vivian who waved her over with a broad smile.
As Sophia approached Vivian, she saw that her friend was not alone. Standing nearby was a… prince? She gave Vivian a puzzled look, which was only returned with a wide smile. When she was close enough Vivian took her hand into her own and showed her a beautiful ring on her left hand. The stone seemed to glow from within, and was set in a metal Sophia recognized immediately as mithril.
“Vivian…” Sophia breathed, as tears filled her eyes. She pulled her into a tight hug. “When?” “How?” “Who?”
Vivian bustled her over to a small window seat and sat her down before sitting across from her. As if on cue a steward brought them two steaming cups of cocoa.
“Mmm chocolate..,” the friends gushed as Vivian began her tale.
“Do you recall the move?” Vivian began.
“The move you didn’t want to move?” Sophia replied with a small giggle.
“Yes, that move.” Vivian smiled.
“So… what about it?”
“Well, as it happens the garden that was enchanted had another secret..” Vivian replied.
“Which was? I thought we found them all..”Sophia mused between sips of hot cocoa.
“Not quite, there was one that was… well, for me to find, on my own. Sort of like your amulet, sort of like your story..” Vivian continued.
“Sophia,” Vivian smiled, “he was my secret..” She glanced over toward her parents.
Sophia followed her friends look. She regarded the tall prince that stood talking to her parents. He was dressed in a dark blue surcoat lined with white ermine, over what appeared to be a finely wrought Mithril chain mail shirt, hosen of the same dark blue, and leather boots with silver spurs. He wore a fur fringed cloak of fine velvet and damask clasped with gold about his shoulders, and at his side a sword hung in its scabbard. He had dark chocolate brown hair, and a warm boyish smile. A circlet of gold rested upon the crown of his head.
“He was a frog..” Vivian chuckled.
“In the garden?!” Sophia replied surprised.
“Yes.”
“So… how?” Sophia began thinking she knew the answer but.. just to be sure she wanted to hear it from her friend.
“Well I didn’t kiss him… well not like the story.” Vivian laughed.
“Then how did you break the spell?”
“I gave him a song.” Vivian replied.
“We’ve been singing our duet ever since.”
“Oh Vivian… that’s so perfect..” Sophia gushed.
“I wanted to tell you, but with all the secrecy involved in being a Protector, I didn’t know how..” Vivian replied, her smile fading a little.
“I understand..” Sophia replied.
“So much is … no, has changed since I left.”
Vivian took another drink of her cocoa. “We are growing up, well, I guess we grew up, but you know.. we are finding our happy ever afters now..” Vivian replied.
“Yes, it looks like you are.” Sophia smiled.
“It’s because of you…” Vivian added, setting her cup aside and taking her friends hands into her own.
“I know, but it’s sort of my destiny or… something I guess.” Sophia blushed. “I just.. what do I do now?”
“Find your own happy ending?” Vivian suggested.
“Do I even.. get one?” Sophia asked with a deeper blush, “I mean, what else could I want, I have my family and my best friend is getting married to an amazing Prince and…everyone is together, what more?”
“That is true Sophia, but surely there is something … no someone who has been waiting to see you all year..”
“No…” she replied with a dismissive wave. “He’s found his own happy ending too.”
“Has he?”
“Pfttt yes.”
“I would’t be so certain.”
Sophia looked over at the tree, then at the rest of the room. Cedric really did go all out.
“Have you seen him tonight?” She ventured to ask.
“I can’t say I have.” Vivian replied.
Vivian’s prince approached them with a smile and a courtly bow. “M’lady, the dancing is about to begin and I would like to have the first dance with you.”
“Princess Sophia, this is my fiancé, Prince Theodore,” Princess Vivian, “Prince Theodore, this is my best friend Princess Sophia, daughter of King Roland of Enchancia, and Protector of the Ever Realm.”
“Enchanté.” Prince Theodore replied taking Sophia’s hand and placing a light kiss upon the top.
The music began in earnest as the floor cleared and couples paired off to begin the evenings dances. Prince Theodore took Vivian away, and as they stepped onto the floor Sophia watched them dance with a wistful smile.
“Good Evening Princess.” A familiar voice said close to her ear. “Did I show up or did I show up?”
She smiled broadly.
“You did show up, and you went above and beyond as usual Cedric.”
She glanced over and saw Cedric was not dressed in his usual purple attire, although she didn’t think it was unflattering, but rather humble. Instead, tonight he looked quite the sorcerer, in a black robe, trimmed in purple satin, with damask alchemic symbols upon it. About his shoulders he had a black crushed velvet hooded cloak also lined in the same hue of purple. He still had the fingerless gloves and his wand was the same purple heartwood with phoenix feather core she remembered from her youth.
“How are you enjoying being a Protector?” He asked with a shy smile.
“I guess it’s… ok?” Sophia replied shyly.
“Well, if you get bored, you can always return to being my ..eh apprentice,” he replied half teasing.
“You know that’s not going to happen,” Sophia teased back..
“Why, am I not good enough for you?” Cedric countered.
Sophia didn’t know what to say to that.
“I…”
“What’s wrong? Raven got your tongue?”
“No.. I just.. Wow! How did you get the crystals to look so much like icicles?” Sophia asked abruptly walking over to one of the decorations, inspecting it closer.
“Well, it’s just parlor trick magic… simple illusion.” Cedric began to ramble.
“It’s.. ah.. very good.” Sophia replied..
“Good enough for a Protector?” Cedric asked.
What was he getting at? Sophia wondered.
“Oh this is beautifully done Cedric, far better than our magic.. you’re an artist.”
“I know.. I know..” He seemed to gloat.
Same old Cedric.
“But..” His tone trailed off, and she felt his gaze as she had many times before. “Is it.. good enough?”
She turned to face him, smiling, “oh yes, quite good.” Was that a blush?
Did he really just blush, and why did the room seem to fade around them for a moment. She wanted to say, “I missed you.” She wanted to hear him say, “I missed you too.” She wanted him to ask her for a dance, and she wished she had time to dress like Amber, to look like a proper Princess, not a Protector. She wondered if she had soot on her cheek from the candle, or if she smelled of horse. She wondered if he always had crows feet around his eyes when he smiled like that, and would he always smile like that when he saw her. She wondered how long it took him to gather the nerve to even talk to her. He was twice her age, practically, if not more. She was going to be twenty this year… he was two years shy of King Roland, and anyways this was a stupid diversion from her oh so important Protector work.
“I should … go. I think I see Amber waving me over and you know, it’s been a year.” Sophia said breaking the spell between them.
Did his smile fade? She wasn’t sure but something changed as he seemed to quickly nod and shoo her off while he went over to talk to Greylock who to Sophia’s surprise was actually keeping King Magnus in check.