Falling For His Charms

CHAPTER 35

The tired gleam in her parent's eyes evaporated as they both beamed at Lex and Dex. They looked, if possible, ten years younger than only seconds ago, and Sophie smiled also, just as brightly. The two Dizznee boys' periwinkle eyes filled with tears and they both launched themselves at Grady and Edaline, who began sobbing happily as well. Sophie, Fitz and Elwin stood up from their chairs, and smiled at the scene before them. Sophie laughed when Edaline made sign for her to join the hug, as well as the two other men beside her. It was one big, messy, group hug.

"You're going to be our mommy? And our daddy?" Lex asked, pulling away from the tight embrace, and wiping his eyes. The two Ruewen adults nodded, unable to form words for the moment. Lex grinned brightly, and clapped excitedly. "Will you be Rex and Bex's too?"

A sharp and tense silence set in. Even though it hurt, Sophie said it for them.

"Yes, Lex. They will become part of the family also." Her voice was soft and quiet, fitting in perfectly to the thick silence in the room. Lex, being only seven years old and not understanding that they had no idea where his siblings were, smile even brighter than usual. He excitedly stood up, kissed Dex's forehead, and skipped over to the brown-eyed girl.

"Can we go play?" He seemed so happy and excited... Sophie didn't want to ruin that.

"Of course. Mom, Dad, do you need anything?"

Her parents shook their heads sadly, and held Dex's hands as they waved goodbye to the duo - well, and Fitz also, who refused to go anywhere else without Sophie. The three of them walked through the grand halls of the castle, Lex pointing out everything to them.

"Doesn't that guard have a weird expression? He looks like he just ate a lemon and imp poop!

"Look at that tree outside! It looks like it's wearing one of Auntie Marge's wigs!

"Do you sometimes wish that the ground was butterblasts instead of rock? That way you can eat the ground!"

Every time he said something absolutely hilarious, Sophie had to bite her lip so that she didn't burst out laughing. She looked at Fitz, who was coughing to disguise his own laugh. However when the two met eyes, the both grinned and snorted before looking away.

Finally, Fitz brought them to a beautiful blue lake, surrounded by willows with bright yellow flowers braided into their leaves. Lex screeched in excitement and ran up to the lake, where he started throwing pebbles into the clear water. Fitz and Sophie sat down on a soft patch of grass, feeling quite content. Sophie let her eyes close again and let the breeze ruffle her long blonde hair.

Suddenly, she had a strong sense of déja vu. Last night, when she went with the triplets to go star gazing. She had let the three of them go up ahead, while she closed her eyes and relaxed. That was when it happened. When the bad people had taken them away.

Sophie opened her eyes quickly and stood up, running over to Lex. She had to be cautious now. Who knew where the kidnappers were presently? She would not let he small boy out of her sight.

"Sophie? Soph, what's wrong?" Fits asked, meeting her by the edge of the water, where she was staring at Lex smile happily and throw rocks into the crystal clear liquid.

"I can't let it happen again," Was her only answer. Fitz probably thought that she was officially losing her mind, but she didn't care about that right now. All knew was that she would never forgive herself if Lex was taken away too.

"Sophie... Listen, I understand how you feel, but please listen to me. Don't blame yourself. The only one to blame are those wretched elves who have no place on this earth." His concerned voice quickly turned to a protective growl, and Sophie found herself feeling surprised. She had never heard Fitz this angry before.

"It's okay Fitz, all I'm saying is that I need to be more vigilant. I wasn't last night, and it's my responsibility as Lex's older sister to protect him." Calling herself his older sister was strange, but it felt... Right. Like they were always meant to be siblings in the first place.

"That's understandable. Just... Please don't let the guilt get to you. I don't think that I could live in a world without you," He answered, and Sophie's heart warmed significantly. She smiled and was just about to pour everything she felt about him out; but she couldn't do that. He was a prince, and she was a peasant. It was that simple. They just couldn't be together. So instead of saying what she always wished to tell him, she said something else, "I don't think that I could either."