The Road to Coronation

I Will Find You

Chapter 16:

(Hugo POV)

What did Sofia want to tell me? I thought as I saw her run down the hallway. She seemed excited but, I couldn't help but worry. The hour passed slowly and I found myself counting the minutes until an hour was up. Finally I was able to walk down to the gazebo. Our picnic basket was there but Sofia wasn't, I then saw three sets of footprints going off in the direction of the garden and felt my stomach dropped. I could tell which were Sofia's because the other footprints were the same kind of shoes. There was then an indent in the snow and a handprint after which only the two other footprints continued. "No," I breathed out as I began running following the path of the footprints until they disappeared, "No, not again."

I ran back into the castle and looked for Dad and Aunt Violet, "Hugo what's the rush?" Dad asked. "Sofia... gazebo... footprints... gone" I got out, out of breath and terrified. Aunt Violet came closer to me, "Hugo slow down, breathe and explain." "I was supposed to meet Sofia out at the gazebo, she wanted to tell me something, I went down to meet her but she wasn't there. I saw three sets of footprints run off and then Sofia's prints were gone and the other footprints disappeared as well. Someone took my wife." Dad stiffened as I said this. "Guards, we are on high alert. Find Princess Sofia" He shouted. 

He then turned to Aunt Vi, "Vi, I love you and I know you want to leave but, I am not risking losing a member of my family again especially after what happened to Lila." He started but she put a hand on his arm, "I am not going to leave, you guys need me now, Hugo bring the guards to where you saw the trail and then start sending them off in different directions. Whoever has her had at most an hour head start lets not give them any longer." I nodded and brought the guards to where the trail had ended.

They spread out and went off in different directions. I went back to the gazebo and saw everything that Sofia had laid out. She had laid out a blanket brought down pillows and had the basket all packed. I opened it and found an envelope with my name on the outside. I opened it and saw a letter inside:

Dear Hugo,
I figured since letters were how you found out that I loved you and how you kept in contact with me for so long so it seemed the only way to tell you important news. The past few months have made me happier than I have been in my entire life and I know I have been acting strange recently and I'm sorry for being secretive. I would have told you sooner but, it wasn't my life that could be at risk by talking about this.

Whose life is at risk?

Hugo you always said the timing would be perfect whenever it happened and that I could tell you anything but, I will always protect my family first. Now that we don't have to deal with the advisory board anymore it felt like the right time to tell you that Baby Clara has decided to make an earlier appearance than either of us have expected. Hugo I'm pregnant.

I put down the letter as I kept thinking about that line, Sofia is pregnant. I'm going to be a father. My pregnant wife was kidnapped. My breath quickened I needed to do something. I felt a hand on my shoulder, "Hugo we are going to find her son." I turned toward my Dad, "Dad, it's worse than you think." I handed him the letter. I saw him read the letter and stop, "Hugo, I'm so sorry." 

"I can't lose them Dad, I can't lose my wife or my kid." He nodded his head and I could tell he was thinking about what happened to Mom. "We will tell the guards right away we will find her soon" He was about to go off when I grabbed his arm, "No." I said. "Sofia was right the more people that know the bigger target that is put on Sofia and our unborn child. Right now only Sofia, you and I know and that is keeping the baby safe. The guards only need to know that the future Queen is missing. That is all anyone needs to know." He nodded in agreement, "No one will know about the baby."

We walked back into the castle and my Dad handed me the letter, "We will find her soon son." I nodded and walked to our suite. I opened up the letter and decided to keep reading.

I know that things are crazy right now and we are so young and soon going to be King and Queen but it feels right. I want her to have he life we had talked about for her to grow up in the castle in the nursery and for us to see her first steps, hear her first words and see every other life experience we can. I love you Hugo and I love this kid with every fiber of my being. Now please stop reading and give me a kiss.
Love your wife,
Sofia

I wanted to look up and see her sitting across from me. I wanted to give her that kiss that she had asked for. I wanted to celebrate the fact that we were going to start a family. I put my hands in my pocket and felt the compass. I picked it up and thought back to our wedding day. I was so nervous and apparently so was she. I had asked my brother to give her a necklace and he came back and gave me the compass. I pressed my thumb over the inscription, So you always find your way back to me. "So that I can alway find my way back to you" I said out-loud wistfully. I then realized, "So that I can always find my way back to you." I flipped it open and the arrow began spinning until it landed on a direction, "It always points toward Sofia."

I ran to grab a bag and threw supplies inside. I then went to my Dad's office, "Dad I am going after her." He was alone in the room and looked up at me, "Hugo we have no idea where to they went." I held up the compass, "Sofia gave this to me on our wedding day, it always points to her. I am going after her." "Hugo we have every guard out loo-" I stopped him, "Dad if it was Mom and you knew there was something you could do would you go." He sighed and nodded, "Are you bringing guards with you?" I shook my head, "The more people with me, the more attention that is going to be drawn to me. Don't stop the guards who are already looking for her but, I'm not stopping." He nodded, "I'll cover for you if anyone asks but, be careful. I have already lost one kid and my wife to these people I refuse to lose another." I nodded and left. I went down to the stables and saddled up a flying horse. I then opened the compass and saw the direction, "I'm coming Sofia. I will always find you."

(Sofia POV)

I woke up surrounded by darkness. It only took a minute to realize that my head was covered and my mouth was also tied shut. I tried lifting up my arms but felt them tied down to a chair, same with my legs. I heard a door open and felt the fabric covering my face being ripped off. I opened my eyes and let them adjust to the dim light. "Princess Sofia," Laurianne Cunningham said circling me, "you know what no, you don't deserve to be called princess. Your mother marrying a King still makes you nothing and our Prince is a fool for seeing you as anything other than that." 

I sat occasionally trying to see if I could loosen the ties around me. "Oh, you are trying to escape now. Please you are pathetic and I appear to be the only one who can see that. Not to worry, you will be taken care of very soon." She said patting the top of my head causing a shutter to come through my body. She left the room and I could hear it lock. I looked down at my hand and saw that I was still wearing my ring. Hugo gave me this ring and Hugo will find me. I kept repeating to myself. I just had to keep myself and the baby safe long enough for him to find us.