cascade | kotlc

13. Face Your Fears

Sophie was fairly certain the entire elvin world had packed themselves into the Wanderling Woods, but even the massive crowd couldn't break the unnatural silence of the solemn trees. Grady and Edaline and surprisingly June too were needed up front with the Vackers.

As she advanced close enough in the receiving line to finally see Alden's Wanderling, a small sapling dotted with teal flowers. The tree was frail and thin and not at all like the real Alden. Sophie wanted to rip it from the ground and hurl it away.

They moved forward again and Sophie got her first glimpse of the family. To her surprise, again, June was with them. She seemed to be the only thing holding the Vackers up, though Alvar tried to look strong as he held his mom's hand. Deep down Sophie knew everyone was breaking. Her sister was just trying to act like it wasn't.

Hope wasn't good enough. They needed actual strength.

Her chest tightened when she realized she was next to see the Vackers and she could barely breathe as she took the final steps.

Biana and Fitz were mid 'thank you for coming' when they realized who they were speaking to. June looked at her nervously as Biana's voice trailed away. Fitz's jaw clenched so tight it looked like he might crack a tooth, and he gripped June's arm tightly. Her skin was almost starting to bruise. She held Fitz's body straight as she cast Sophie a glance. Good luck.

"I'm so sorry," Sophie whispered, forcing her to meet Fitz's gaze.

He didn't nod. Didn't say anything. He was still holding onto June as if they were hanging over a cliff and she was the one clutching onto him as he dangled over the edge.

Sophie hung her head. She thought about walking away, but she couldn't. Not without saying the one thing that needed to be said.

"I miss him."

"Don't!" Fitz snapped. "You don't get to-" he choked and bent over, gagging raspily. June kneeled down and rubbed his stomach, frantically scanning him for injuries. She peeked at Sophie. I hope you know what you're doing.

"Whoa, chill, man," Keefe said, stepping between them. "This is Sophie."

"Keefe, it's fine." Sophie looked at Della, who'd come out of her daze to notice what was happening beside her. Alvar glanced at them before turning to his mother. "I guess I shouldn't have come."

"No, you shouldn't have," Fitz agreed, clenching his lungs as he bent down lower, hacking so hard it seemed like he'd hack his alveoli out. June looked at him worriedly and gathered something in her hand before shoving what seemed like compressed air into Fitz's throat. Sophie didn't know how it worked but it seemed to work, as he clung to June for support and struggled to stand upright.

There were dozens of things Sophie wanted to say, but she knew none of them would help. So she gave Della the tightest hug she could and tried to hug June too, but Fitz pulled June away from her when she approached. Feeling humiliated, she curtsied to the Councillors and hurried away with Sandor right behind.

"Hey, wait up," Keefe called, running after her.

"I don't want to talk, Keefe."

"I know, I can definitely feel that. But you have to know, Sophie. I could tell what Fitz is feeling, and he's not angry at you. He's just broken, Sophie. Completely broken."

-

"So... I've got some good news and bad news," Keefe said as Silveny nuzzled his shoulder through the bars. He hadn't come over the day before, and the high-maintenance alicorn had clearly missed him. She had refused to eat anything she was offered until June begrudgingly -- well, she said 'begrudgingly', but it was more 'gladly' -- rode her around the property. "What do you want first?"