#cedfiaweek2019

“Let's go over the list one more time.” Cedric said, pacing back and forth with a scroll nearly as long as his arm. “I want to be absolutely certain that we have everything.”

Sofia chuckled and shook her head at her husband as she smoothed a hand over her swollen belly. “Cedric, we've been over the list twenty times in the past three days. We have the booties and the diapers and the receiving blankets and the cradle and the rattles and everything else imaginable. We're as prepared as we're going to be for this baby.”

“I just can't shake the feeling that we're forgetting something.” Cedric muttered, scanning over the list for the umpteenth time. He had been meticulous in making certain that each and every item on the list had either been purchased or crafted and placed in the nursery for the arrival of his first born child and yet there was a nagging at the back of his mind that something had been missed. Somewhere along the way they had overlooked some crucial detail that wouldn't reveal itself until the moment it was needed. With the baby due any day now he felt he needed to figure it out. “I think I'm just going to pop into the nursery really quick and-”

“Cedric, come to bed.” Sofia commanded in a gentle tone. “Whatever it is can wait until...”

Cedric stared at his wife in confusion as she trailed off. The expression on her face shifted from calm to somewhat alarmed and this sent his heart into a panic. “Sofia, what's wrong!?”

“N-nothing.” She managed with a small laugh. “But I think I'm going into labor.”

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Seven hours. His wife had been in labor for seven agonizing hours and Cedric was quite certain that she had handled it far better than he had. At the end of those grueling seven hours the couple was rewarded with a healthy, eight pound six ounce, lively baby boy. He was instantly the light of their lives and both parents seemed to melt as the midwife handed the swaddled infant over to them for immediate care and affection. She only had one prodding question for the jubilant couple.

“What's his name?”

Cedric looked to Sofia. 

Sofia looked to Cedric.

Their eyes widened in horrified realization that all this time spent fretting over making sure they were fully prepared for their first child had distracted them from the most obvious necessity for a new baby:

"You love me?..."

Oh! Why had he gone and said that? It had been a mere slip of the tongue! Granted, he completely meant the sentiment. But he certainly never had any intention of actually revealing it to her.

Cedric kept his gaze averted. Too afraid to make eye contact and gage the expression of his princess. Would her sweet face be twisted into an expression of utter disgust? No. She was far too kind for that. If he chanced to look he'd probably be greeted with a look of pity, or surprise instead.

It was him who was surprised however. When he suddenly felt Sofia's hands gently, but firmly, grab his face and pull him into a passionate kiss.

His eyes widened, and his body stiffened. Too over come with shock, and perhaps a bit of bliss, to react properly to her display of affection.

Unfortunately, she seemed to take his lack of movement as a sign that he didn't appreciate her actions. And she suddenly pulled back, eyes wide with fright.

"Oh! Oh...I'm sorry! It's just..." Now it was her turn to look away. Her cheeks flushed red with embarrasment. "When you said 'I love you'. I thought you meant like..." tears began to pool in her eyes as she began to turn to run out of the workshop. Silently, reprimanding herself for thinking he could ever care for her as more than a friend.

Cedric caught her hand, preventing her escape and causing her to look back at him. His imploring expression easing her fears as he gently turned her around to face him fully again. Holding her hands in his own.

They stood together in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Both trying to decipher what the other was thinking, as they gazed into each other's eyes. Sofia's still moist with tears.

At last Cedric decided to take a chance this time. Gently cupping her cheek and tracing his thumb over her lips before dipping his head down to kiss her.

A soft moan escaped Sofia's throat as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pleased when he reponded this time by grasping her waist and pulling her closer to him. Their actions fully conveying the words they'd both been too afraid to say.

"So I go over, then you do. I need to loop around and then...are you sure this is right?" Sofia was slowly tying her hands into knots with a stand-in ribbon. It was only a day away from their ceremony. A day away from forever.

"Honestly Sofia you have no need to worry, we use a spell for this now anyway." Staring hard at the spellbook for their ceremony Cedric tapped the tip of his wand on his worktable, unconsciously turning it from wood to stone and back. "Love, are you as excited as I am? If...if you are having second thoughts I don't want to push you into something you do not want..." He pushed his white bangs back with his now longer, Sofia thought it attractive, black hair.

Gentle arms wound around his slim form from behind, "Cedric, I adore you. I want to be with you forever." He felt his face go hot, he still wasn't fully used to her freely flowing love. "It's this ribbon that has me perplexed, despite the spells used I'd still like to know how it's done...hehe..." She trailed off with a slight giggle, her insatiable thirst for knowledge always a teasing topic between them.

Twisting to face her, he bent his head, burying his face into her auburn locks. He took a deep breath, she always seemed to smell of sunshine, then laid his head more fully upon hers. "You say that, but a binding is more permanent and powerful than a normal wedding. This ceremony binds us to each other completely. Heart to heart, mind to mind, soul to soul. We cannot break such a contract as easily as you would a simple marriage."

She pulled him tighter into her embrace and then pulled back enough to look to his deep, brown eyes. What used to hold so much loneliness now held unfathomable depths of love, "I'm aware what we are doing my dearest Sorcerer. I am the one after all, who suggested it. I researched everything from it's inception to the last couple to complete the ritual. Which, I might add, were your parents." Releasing her hold on his waist she lifted her hands to cradle his head, pushing back soft strands that fell in his face, "I would do anything to be with you, as close to you as two people can be. We aren't giving away our individual selves, we are strengthening each other bolstering the other to be the most powerful we can be. And more! I'm beyond excited and I can barely wait til tomorrow..." Her face beamed, sky blue eyes shining with joy.

"Dearest, if you feel you must, we can practice the binding by hand." Grasping one end of the ribbon still trailing down her arm, Cedric began wrapping his wrist, "Tomorrow is a joyous occasion for us and our families. If it will ease your worries and, more importantly, make you happy then I would be glad to practice the old fashioned way." He leaned in and stole a quick kiss, "For luck."

Cedfia Week Day 7: “I Love You!”

@suirenshinju invented a @cedfiaweek and i LOVE IT, so here’s a one shot for the first topic: Spell.

This will be written in spanish because I don’t trust my english lol. Enjoy! (If you get to understand it 😂)

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Encantia estaba siendo atacada. Finalmente, luego de una guerra de más de 2 años con el reino de Caltoria. El pueblo enemigo había logrado atravesar las fronteras y abierto fuego contra ellos.

La gente de los pueblos de Encantia corría despavorida. Muchos habían logrado escapar y buscaban pasar la frontera sin ser vistos. Muchos padres de familia querían quedarse del lado del Rey y ayudarlo a luchar. También muchos habían sido asesinados, ya sea a sangre fría o bajo los incendios provocados por las tropas del Rey de Caltoria.

En el palacio, miles de hombres se alistaban bajo las órdenes del capitán de la guardia y sus subalternos.

El Rey Roland estaba devastado, pero dispuesto a morir luchando por su pueblo. Agitado daba indicaciones a diestra y siniestra, mientras caminaba de un lado a otro en la sala de tronos. La gente entraba y salía agitada del lugar.

—¡Cedric!—Bramó, sobresaltando a su familia.

—Sí, su majestad—exclamó él, jadeante, mientras aparecía en la habitación.

—Haz aparecer a Miranda y Sofía en algún lugar seguro, algún reino amigo. ¿Puedes hacer eso?

—Sí, majestad.—Respondió preocupado.

No hubo terminado de decir esa frase y el rey besó a Sofía en la mejilla, a su mujer en los labios y salió corriendo, seguido de 2 generales expectantes de indicaciones.

Amber se encontraba segura en Tangu, se había casado hace 1 año con el Príncipe Zandar y nada debía pasarle ahí. James era guardia de la caballería y se encontraba en terreno desde que se supo la noticia.

Cedric volteó a mirar a los 2 miembros restantes de la familia.

Miranda abrazaba con pavor a su hija, susurrando palabras tranquilizadoras, más para sí que para Sofía, teniendo en cuenta que ella se encontraba preocupantemente más tranquila.

Cedric cruzó una mirada intensa con la joven.

—Que ni se te ocurra—amenazó ella, manteniendo alzada su mirada, mientras abrazaba a su temblorosa madre.

De haber estado en otra situación él hubiera bufado burlonamente ante su terquedad. En vez, separó a madre e hija y habló a la Reina. La tomó de los hombros y la miró a los ojos con un rastro de culpa.

—La cuidaré con mi vida, se lo prometo.—Le aseguró. Miranda lo miró sin comprender y antes de poder decir nada, él agregó.— lo siento, majestad.

La reina desapareció en un humo blanco.

—Está en Avalor, va a estar bien.—se excusó innecesariamente.—Ahora sígueme.

Sofía obedeció sin dudar y ambos salieron corriendo con dirección a la torre.

Agradecía profundamente que Cedric no la hubiera enviado lejos con su madre. Él la conocía mejor que nadie, sabía que lucharía para defender a Encantia aunque le costara la vida.

Corrieron por los pasillos desiertos del castillo, mientras escuchaban gritos y explosiones fuera de él, poniéndolos a ambos nerviosos.

Cedric abrió la puerta del taller de un golpe y Sofía entró tras él.

—Probablemente la frontera este esté despejada, y es la mejor opción para guíar a la gente al extranjero. Si conjuramos unas cuantas carretas podemos acelerar el proceso. Si unimos fuerzas con las brujas, puede que detengamos la masacre en poco tiempo. Lucinda debe estar ya ayudando a la gente de Dunwiddie.

Sofía continuaba hablando sin parar mientras buscaba unas varitas e ingredientes, pero se detuvo cuando vio que Cedric leía un libro de la pequeña y poco frecuentada sección de hecizos de magia negra.

—¿Qué tienes en mente?—le preguntó mientras se acercaba a él a leer lo que estaba leyendo, pero se sorprendió cuando él apartó el libro de ella y lo llevó hacia su pecho, como ocultándolo.

Sofía lo miró confundida.

—¿Qué...?

—Sofía, debes saber que no hay posibilidad de que te deje quedarte. Se lo prometí a tu pdre, a tu madre y a mi mismo un sin fin de veces

—¡Pero-!

—No está sujeto a discusión.—Espetó con seriedad.

—¿Cómo que no está sujeto a discusión? ¿Ahora te sientes con derecho a tomar decisiones por mí?

Sofía estaba enfurecida, y Cedric le encontraba la razón, pero no podía arriesgarse.

Ella se cruzó de brazos y lo miró desafiante.

—¿Y por qué no me enviaste con mi madre?

El sonrió amargamente mientras volvía a guardar el libro evitando que Sofía pudiera leer su título

—No considero que estés lista en términos mágicos para enfrentarte a una guerra, querida, pero ya aprobaste la lección de aparición a larga distancia con una nota sobresaliente, si mal no recurdo. Con esa cabeza dura, sé que enviarte lejos no será suficiente para apartarte de aquí.

Sofía estaba atónita. Cedric se acercó a ella y la tomó de las manos.

—Eres la persona más valiente que conozco, y no es que no confíe en ti, es que no confío en esta guerra. No sé si tienen hechiceros o brujos o armas desconocidas y no voy a arriesgarme a ponerte en peligro.

Sofía lo miraba con el ceño fruncido.

—Tú no me estás poniendo en peligro, ¡Yo soy la que quiere pelear!

—Y no puedo permitírtelo si es que tengo el poder de evitarlo.

Con esta frase acercó una mano a su bolsillo, mientras con la otra mantenía la de Sofía, y sacó de ahí su varita familiar.

Sofía abrió los ojos en sorpresa.

—Cedric, no vayas a cometer una estupidez.

—Si eso te mantiene a salvo, lo haré.

Luego la apuntó con la varita y mustitó:

—Potest indultum

Nada salió de la varita, pero sí algo salió de Sofía, y sintió un mareo por un segundo.

—¿Qué hiciste?—Susurró angustiada.

Cedric volvió a guardar la varita y la tomó nuevamente de las manos.

—Confío en que algún día me perdonarás.—dijo llevando las manos de ella hacia su boca para besarlas temblorosamente.

—¿Qué hiciste?—Repitió ahora con lágrimas en los ojos ante la actitud de despedida de Cedric.

—Anulé tu magia. Solo la recuperarás si yo te lanzo el contrahechizo o si muero, lo que pase primero.

Sofía lanzó un grito ahogado ante la frase.

—Te enviaré con tu madre, y ahora estoy seguro de que no podrás volver, al menos no por magia.

—Yo... yo... estoy furiosa—Sollozó, aun mirándolo, pero comprendoendo que no le quedaban muchas alternativas. Se sentía muy débil y no le gustaba.

—Lo sé, mi amor.—tomó la cara de ella entre sus manos secando las lágrimas.—pero me lo agradecerás.

—Claro que no, ¿Qué hay de ti?—Susurró poniendo sus manos sobre las de él.

—No lo sé. No sé cuanto dure esta guerra, cuantos sobrevivirán o quién la ganará. Solo sé que tú estarás segura y eso es lo que importa.

—Es injusto—volvió a sollozar.

—Yo no lo veo así. Ahora, el tiempo apremia, debes irte. Nos veremos pronto, y todo estará bien—mintió en vano, y luego depositó un amargo y necesario beso de despedida en sus labios.

—Cedric, no-

—Te quiero, Sofía.

Fue lo último que escuchó antes de reaparecer junto a su madre y la familia real de Avalor, que la miraron sorprendidos pero aliviados, y se acercaron a ella preguntándole mil cosas a la vez. Sofía, sin embargo, tenía su mirada perdida y las mejillas con sus lágrimas frescas.