the gorgeous beautiful amazing inspiring novel of keefe-oh and sophie

21| sophie

Sophie sighed. Again. This was so. Boring.

Everyone seemed to have decided that she had to be treated like a baby in order to be healed. And to be honest, she was getting kind of sick of Ro teasing her about Keefe, her "knight in shining armor."

So it was a huge relief when Sandor appeared two days after her stitches ripped, with no visible injuries.

Before Sandor could squeak out a single word, Sophie held up a hand (which she could finally do without wincing, thanks to Elwin). "Before you start apologizing and try to resign again or something," she said, "I was being really stupid that day, and it's all my fault I got hurt. You were protecting my friends. That means more to me."

Sandor nodded, and Sophie swore she saw him tearing up. "I hear you, Miss Foster, but you have to admit I'm at least partially to blame. I left you defenseless against our biggest enemy—"

"No. We've  been training for this, and I should've held on to more weapons. And I was the one who ran after Gisela without thinking."

"I know, Miss Foster. But you have to remember that if I'd checked the grounds more thoroughly, we would've found the crystal planted and this would've been prevented. I don't understand how you still want to put your life in my hands when I have failed you almost every time we encounter the Neverseen."

"Because you're the only one I actually trust. Any goblin that Queen Hylda assigns to me could be a traitor. But I trust you."

Sandor opened his mouth to argue when the door burst open again.

"Okay, I'm sick of this!" Ro complained, stomping inside with Keefe right behind her. "I've been listening to your little bodyguard-charge reunion, and can I just say that whatever happened happened? You can't time travel! Yeah, the cloak dudes left some shiny thing in your backyard. You can't change that! Just skip to the 'Fine, everything's cool again' part and move on!"

Sophie looked back at Sandor. "She has a point."

He sighed, shook his head, and stepped back by the door at his typical post.

Sophie allowed herself a smile as Ro sat in a chair across from her bed.

"So, do you know when you can get up and walk around?" Ro asked.

"Elwin says in a couple weeks," Sophie sighed. It would be a miracle if she was able to survive that long in this room. The colorful walls already felt like they were closing in, and all she had to entertain herself was making pretty annoying music with her empty elixir vials.

"Gosh, don't be too excited," Elwin said, coming into the room. "I'm not that boring."

"I never said you were boring, I just feel useless."

"You know you say that, like, every time you're stuck getting treatment, right?" Keefe told her.

"That's because it's true," Sophie shot back, annoyed.

Keefe just rolled his eyes. "You know, just because you're not doing anything for the Black Swan, it doesn't mean you can't do anything productive. You could do some serious thinking and try to solve this triangle."

Sophie still didn't know what he was implying, but the way Elwin was trying- unsuccessfully- not to laugh suggested that she did not want to know.

"It won't be so bad, Sophie," Elwin assured her after composing himself. "You've done this before."

Sophie thought back to the time when shadowflux was directed into her arm. "Yeah, but I don't remember those times being all great either, to be honest. At least last time I had Fitz for company."

She looked up when Ro snorted. "You really think our amazing Hunkyhair is just gonna leave you stranded here?"

"Well, I mean, his treatment is done, and Foxfire..."

"You do realize Foxfire is getting an extended break again?" Keefe said.

"It is?"

"Yeah. Now that they know the Neverseen has someone to plant crystals that easily, they can't really take any chances."

Sophie blew out a breath. "Well that's... something."

"And it means I'll have even more time on my hands to bug you." Keefe wiggled his eyebrows.

"More like time to-" Suddenly Keefe had tackled Ro, his hand over her mouth.

Ro stood and dramatically spun around, shoving Keefe back against the wall. In a flash she had a dagger against his throat.

"Try that again, I dare you," she told him. Sophie knew she was joking, but suddenly she was concerned for Keefe's safety.

Keefe smirked. "I don't think you would want to decapitate your own charge."

"Maybe not, but I know pretty much all of your secrets, and nothing is holding me back from sharing them with our little Blondie over there."

Keefe cursed under his breath. "Fine, I won't tackle you again."

"You better not," Ro said menacingly. "Even if I can't behead you, I have some bacteria with me that works wonders, and I'm not afraid to use it."

"No, I have enough medical emergencies to deal with!" Elwin insisted, shoving his way between them. Ro flopped back onto her chair and started to file her nails with the giant knife.

"Hmm," she mumbled to herself. "Fine. I won't use any bacteria. Or kill you."

Sophie let out a breath- but too soon.

"If you let me have something in return."

Keefe rolled his eyes. "What do you want, my hair routine? Because you'll never have these gorgeous layers like I do."

Ro looked disgusted. "Please. My locks are ten times better than your scruffy little head. But no. I want a free dare." She pointed her dagger at Keefe menacingly. "Yeah. I have one chance for you to do whatever I tell you. No exceptions. I mean it, Hunkyhair. This isn't like that dreaded little visit to dwarf-y land. You have to listen. Got it?"

Keefe huffed dramatically. "Fine."

Sophie didn't like the way Ro looked so pleased with herself as she slipped her knife back into its holster.

Well, whatever the dare would be, it probably wasn't going to affect her, so... who cared?

A/N- so we may have kinda forgotten about this... and we haven't really updated it since april... BUT WHATEVER WE ARE BACK WITH ANOTHER CHAPTER AND HOPEFULLY WE DIDNT LOSE ALL OF OUR READERS LIKE GracieG980 BC THEY ARE SO AMAZING AND LIKE YES SO TY AND WE HOPE UR STILL HERE

-limbiumforsophie and sandor40