Sofia the protected

Chapter 27

Hugo's perspective.

The carriage landing is bumpy but Sophia is the best that she can. She's pulling back on the reins full-extension, straining her muscles. I extend my arm in an attempt to secure my father. the second we're at a complete stop the grooms swarm out from the stable and carry my dad inside the palace. Axel and I bold ourselves out of the carriage and follow swiftly. Sophia is not far behind. I see my dad disappear behind white doors. Axel follows into the Infirmary but Sophie and I are stopped at the door . A nurse dressed all in white with a blue cap, held out her hand to tell us to stop. She smiles at me briefly whether it's in sympathy or not I can't tell. She shuts the door in my face and I go to sit down on the nearby bench lining the white hallway. I bury my face in my hands and Sophia gently rubs me on the back.

I'm all over the place. I feel like my emotions are consuming me. There's no way to control them they're controlling me. I can't think straight. I can't even form a coherent sentence. I just sit there with my head in my hands my thoughts vigorously running in circles. Sophia patiently continues to rub my back. It's soothing.

After I don't know how long Axle appears outside the door. His face is so white he seems to be an apparition. And his arm is bandaged. He sits down next to me.

"I have come to conclusion."Axle sits with perfect posture his voice stiff and eyes trained ahead.

"Big bro?"

"I'm abdicating the throne,"Axial stated it as fact. As if his mind is unchangeable.

I stand to my feet in shock. Facing axle. " You can't do that you've been training all your life for that."

" I don't deal well under pressure. During the battle, I was basically useless. I was huddled in the corner panicking long before I had my arm broken. I was useless to our soldiers. I was useless to help Father." Axel spoke slowly sucking in his breath periodically. Admitting this was painful for him. "I know now that I would be a terrible King. Hugo, I saw you in that fight. You never lost confidence. And while you were very distressed about the situation you managed to get help for me and Dad. And you have a great woman by your side. She will make a good Queen one day."Axel managed a weak smile at Sofia.

"No, no you can't do that."I started to panic. I hadn't trained to be king. I had no idea.

My thoughts were interrupted when a doctor came out from behind the white doors.

" Your father will live. He will have a limp for the rest of his life and he has a hell of a concussion but he'll live."

"Can we see him?"I asked the doctor concern permeating my eyes.

"Yes, but briefly he needs to rest."

Entering the room my spirits sank. My dad looked weak. I had never seen him looking that way. There was pain on his face and he was confined to the bed.

" Hugo Sophia. Thank you for saving us." My dad took our hands. And managed to smile.

" Our pleasure your majesty. Sophia curtsied the picture of elegance.

We talked for a little while about how terrible Ivy was before the nurse shooed us out.

"I'll take you to your room," Sofia said taking my hand.

"What?"  I say.

"It's 2 am. I have arranged for rooms to be prepared for you and axel. Unless you would like to share a room."Sofia asked innocently enough. Supposing I would want moral support from my brother. But his statement had rattled me more than I would like to admit. I wanted to be away from him for a while have a little space to think.

" Nope!" I said with fervency.

"We seem to walk aimlessly around the castle before Sophia finally stopped in front of a door.

"I opened the door and Sophia started to walk away.

" A-wait Sofia. Could you. Maybe stay awhile."The vulnerability in my eyes Is evident.

" Sure." She smiled at me before following me inside."

"The room was an ice cream stucco walls blue furniture and a big window that let out to the balcony. I walked out onto the balcony and Sophia followed."

" I just need someone to bounce my thoughts off of."

" I'm all ears." Sophia put her hand over mine on the railing.

" Axel has been training for years. I see all the homework he has to do. All the diplomacy and paperwork. It's just not me. I don't think I could handle a sedentary lifestyle. I'm a man of action. Not to mention having everyone's fate in my hand's dos not seems safe."

" Hugo it's okay if you don't want to be king. But I think you're wrong. I think you would make a great king. I'm willing to support you in whatever decision you make though."

" Right I know this affects you too. I'm sorry I hadn't thought of that before."

" No it's okay I think you're right. Being a queen was never something I thought about. I've always loved helping people and going on adventures. I don't know if I'd be able to go on adventures if I was a queen."

"I don't know Sof. I just don't know."I hang my head in defeat.

I feel Sophia's hands on my shoulders. She turns me. Her hands gently raise me from my slouching position. She fervently kindly entangled herself with me. It's the sweetest hug. I rest my head on her shoulder and take a deep breath of her cinnamon scent.