Trust Me - a Sophitz story

Part 27

Chapter 27:

Three months passed before they agreed that Fitz was ready. Three months of training, of working with a stubborn alicorn. Three months of trying to find Keefe, three months in which Dex and Linh worked more and more together, developing their own bond. Three months in which Biana and Tam shadowed their respective mentors, learning more about the instability of their world, three months that those two spent devising ways to fix their world. Three months that left Edaline heart broken, Alden more stressed than ever, Grady ready to bring down the council, and the collective groping for a new plan. Three months passed before they were ready.

Finally, finally, Sandor lifted Sophie, gently cradling her in his big goblin arms as he slowly walked from Sophie's third-floor suite to the pasture in front of the house. He set her down, gently, on a cot that had been set up, and he nodded to Elwin, who was on standby. Sandor retreated to stand next to Grizel, while Terigan and Alden bombarded Fitz with last minute advice. Edaline was watching the three elves, and she said slowly, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Somehow, everyone knew Fitz would be asked that question at some point. But no one expected Edaline to be the now to say it. At the raised eyebrow from her husband, she smiled slightly. "All of you are like children to me. I'd never force you to do anything you don't want to do." But Fitz had moved forward and taken one of Edaline's hands.

"I will not lose her. I can't."

And when they met eyes, there was a fire in Edaline's red-rimmed ones, and steel in Fitz's normally bright teal ones.

So they began, Dex fussing over Fitz as he administered various elixirs and strapped a monitoring device around the taller boy's temples.

"This will monitor your brainwaves. There's one on Sophie too. We can watch what's going on without you having to transmit to us, and without putting this mind in danger." Turning slightly, Dex made eye contact with Linh, who was bent over Sophie.

"She's ready." Linh's voice was small but strong, and they both stepped away as Fitz approached his prone cognate. The group spread out in a circle around the two teenaged elves as Slivenly approached, knowing somehow exactly where she was needed, a third transmitter strapped around her equine head, her silvery mane flowing out from underneath.

She bent her head, allowing Fitz to place a single hand on her forehead as he placed the other on Sophie's. Silence fell, as the solemn group realized this could very well mean the end.

***** **

Five minutes passed. Ten. Twenty. Silvenly had buried her nose in Sophie's long blond hair, and Fitz was still standing between them. Dex and Linh were hovering over their invention, checking indicators and dials and a printout, anxiously muttering to each other. Tam slipped over, and a look from Dex confirmed everything was okay.

The group had shifted themselves into sitting positions on the dew-damp grass, each elf looking like they were ready to spring forward at any second. At one moment, Sophie stirred. At another, Fitz twitched. Sophie's reading began to pick up, and the group sighed in relief. And one second at a time, Sophie began to return.

A finger twitched, and Elwin rushed forward to Sophie but was knocked aside by Grady, who took his daughter's hand. Slowly, slowly, slowly, her eyes slid open, watching her dad's face break into a smile for the first time in months. Edaline was right beside him, brushing her hands through her daughter's hair.

***** **

The next few minutes were a blur. Sophie was tested a half dozen ways by Elwin, a half dozen elixirs poured into her mouth. Edaline was holding her hands, crying and smiling, Grady sobbing with relief. Once Sophie was taken care of, Fitz was next to be fussed over, and everyone rushed to Sophie's side, checking on her, caring for her, watching her look around and register every face around her. Silvenly had her face pressed against Sophie's cheek, protectively standing over the frail girl.

Everyone wanted to see her, touch her, know she was okay. But once she had been pulled into a sitting position, her blankets heaped up to keep her warm in the twilight breeze, she still hadn't spoken. Grady had finally settled onto the ground next to the cot and was thanking Fitz over and over and over, babbling in his relief. Biana was seated on the bed with her best friend, her head on Sophie's shoulder.

It was nearly ten minutes before they noticed that Sophie hadn't spoken. She simply sat and did as she was told, watching Fitz the entire time, paying no attention to anyone else in the little group.

"Sweetheart? Everything okay?" Edaline's voice was thick with emotion, worried.

Without looking at her mother, she spoke for the first time since her break directly to Fitz.

"Why can I only hear you? Who are you?"