Kry: chapter four! Super excited, I own nothing but sweet little Emma... Thank you for all the great reviews guys it's motivating me to write twice as fast.

I sighed as I closed the door to the room Emma was using. Baileywick had done his best to throw together a suitable room last minute I knew as soon as Emma saw the room and her face fell that I would have to do somethig to make the sad pout go away.

So I spent almost an hour in there using spell after spell to help personalize her room until she sighed happily and jumped into the bed. I pulled the blanket back and lifted it over her chest as she snuggled down and smiled up at me.

"Night night Cee-dric." She yawned and I patted her head making the solitary silver lock poked out. I twirled it between my fingers and then before I could convince myself otherwise I leaned down and softly kissed her head.

"Goodnight Emma." I whispered and stood to leave. Her eyes were closed before I was out of the room and pride welled in my chest so intensely it almost ached. Shaking the goofy grin off of my face as I made my way through the halls I ran a hand through my hair. As happy as I was I could feel the stress of everything welling up in my gut.

First I checked the dinning hall for the royals only to find it empty so next I wandered into the most used of the sitting rooms to find it deserted as well. Frowning I decided to find Baileywick instead since he would likely know where the royal family was.

After searching for several minutes I finally found the butler directing a group of servents as they went about their duitys cleaning the castle.

"Baileywick." I greeted curtly as I nodded at him an he turned to face me with a dark suspicion clouding his eyes.

"Yes sorcerer?" He asked and I raised a brow at the way he was speaking to me. He turned and went back to directing the work but I could tell he was listening. Though now I was more concerned with what the man was thinking. He might not be my favorite person in the world but I held respect for him and as much as I hated to admit it I vaulued his opinion.

"Baileywick are you angry with me?" I decided to be frank with him about his attitude. He eyed me without turning and waved the maids off so that we were left alone.

"That's a rather ignorant question Cedric." He said as he tried to turn but I was having none of that. I grabbed his shoulder and forced him to turn around and face me earning a sneer from the older gentlemen.

"What is it then. You were fine yesterday." I grunted. As I tried to not let h bother me. I wasn't even sure why it bothered me this much anyways.

"You broke the law. Not just one but two unforgivable laws. I don't understand why your alive." He finnaly said without any malice to his tone. I was taken aback, I didn't realize he hated me that much. As his words registered in my head I felt anger swell up in me.

"You do realize for all intents and purposes I was druged. I literally had no control over the situation. I would never have let thing escalade to such a degree otherwise." I defended as my face heated up. I felt enough guilt over the situation as it was even after finding out Sofia had used a potion on me that made me unable to deny her.

"You can't rape the willing. Everyone else might be ignoring that fact but I refuse to act like you were some victim." He shouted and it surprised me that he was raising his voice. I wasn't sure I had ever seen him truely angry but this only pissed me of even more.

"You think I wanted to fuck her?" I screamed as I leaned closer to his face and I watched as his brows raised up in shock.

"Yes!" He barked in a much quieter voice but still loud enough to be shouting.

"At fourteen?" I begged looking him dead in the eyes with a desperation. How could I make him understand this from my point of view. He stayed silent at first as he collected his thoughts.

"Obviously. Everyone saw how you were with Sofia. She had you wrapped around her little finger." He argued as he pinched his brow with his hand in frustration. I stared at him in muted shock. Did he really believe me to be such a Low life individual that I would taint the innocence of a child. But isn't that what I've done? I ran a hand over my face to smooth my brow and give me a moment to think.

"She tried when she was thirteen. Did you know I turned her down and hurt her so much that she choose to go to Freezenburg to escape me. She even left the amulet here so I wouldn't have anything to miss." I muttered dejectedly as I touched the stone that I wasn't hiding under my cloths anymore.

" I did love her back then your right about that for whatever reason I've always loved her but I never wanted things to be this way. I was resined to never being happy. I knew my place and I respected that. I don't know why Sofia used that love potion Baileywick and I wouldn't trade Emma for the world but I'm going to do everything I can to make this right. It's not about me anymore, if Sofia wants to be a family who am I to deny her that after she's been doing this alone for the last three years?" I asked as I leaned my head against the wall turning away from him. He stayed silent and I knew he was considering my words.

"Don't act like such a martyr Cedric if things go your way you'll get to be king just like you always wanted." Baileywick conceeded as he stormed away. I frowned, I suppose not everyone can be on my side.

"I don't want to be king!" I yelled after his form as he stalked away suprising myself with the proclimation. I really didn't want to be king. That was a desire that died long ago when I began to care for Sofia. All I really wanted was for Emma to grow up and not have to worry about her powers or this prophecy.

Collecting myself I straightened my robes and shook my head determined to put this unpleasantness behind me as I resumed my search for Sofia and her family. We still had much to talk about concerning Emma.

Finnaly I found Sofia and her parents in the dinning hall that I swear I already checked. Her father had an arm around her shoulders and she was in tears as she whispered to him in a tone I couldn't hear. I stood to the side awkwardly as Queen Miranda shot me a knowing look but I couldn't figure out what she was trying to convey.

After a moment Sofia calmed herself and smiled timidly at me before she seperated herself from her father and stepped to stand beside me but she didn't speak.

"Cedric in light of recent events I had a carriage sent to escort your mother here that way she can help you." King Roland said and cleared his throat. I frowned and looked at Sofia before I faced her father again. She was pale and a little shaken.

"What do you mean your majesty?" I questioned trying to keep my tone neutral as I stared at the tired looking king.

" Cedric we have to take Emma's magic away." Sofia said as she grabbed my sleeve. I whipped my head to stare at her unable to hide the anger that pulsed through me at such a ridiculous notion.

"No." I growled holding her eye contact until her brows rose in shock. I looked at the king and saw the disappointment in his face.

"Cedric this isn't really something you have a choice in." He said in that demanding tone and I didn't care if he cut my head off for this.

"Emma is my daughter how on earth do I not have a say in the matter?" I asked through gritted teeth as I clenched my fists and used every bit of will power not to scream at my king. I had never had the desire to really undermine my authority in such a verbal way but Emma was my daughter, and I am a perfectly sufficient wizzard I could handle this without all the interference.

"A daughter that you weren't even aware of until yeaterday Cedric what makes you think you have the authority to argue with me about this?" He took a step towards me and put his face within inches of my own glaring dangerously at me down his nose. Though I was effectively intimidated I stood my ground as I held his gaze.

" fuck your authority! I didn't get a choice in all of this, I was drugged, raped, memory wiped and heartbroken. Emma is the first ray of light that's shown in my life in four years. I love her, I love Sofia and I'll do whatever it takes to protect them. You can't take her magic away it's a part of her. You haven't even given me the chance to try and teach her how to control it." King Roland's face turned to barley controlled rage as I gave up all propriety and spoke with him as I would any normal man who opposed me. Sofia began to tug nervously on the sleeve of my robes but I ignored her.

"How dare you speak to me in such a way sorcerer. You would be wise to remember your place. My decision is final. Either you will use the amulet to contain her powers or I will have Someone who is prepared to do it in your place." He said as he grabbed my robes and lifted me an inch or so off of the ground. Sofia yelped and shrank back and I was once again shocked at how different this Sofia was compared to the young girl who was unafraid to stand up to anyone if they were wrong. Why would she let him do this to our daughter.

Almoat like an echo of a memory I could hear wormwoods voice as he groaned ' for each deed that's done for better or worse a gift is granted a blessing or curse.' I wasn't sure why I chose now of all times to remember but I shoved these thoughts aside.

"Please your magisty, give me until her third birthday. She is intelegent and magic comes natural to her. I got through to her today, the darkness was in control but I reached her and I talked her out of it. You have to at least let me try, if I fail I swear that I will do what I have too." I bowed my head as I realized this wasn't a fight I could win. As I pleaded with him he slowly lowered me back to the ground. I watched as he thought about this before he spoke.

"Are you absolutely sure that you could stop her if she lost control before anyone gets hurt and with out anyone finding out about her no matter what the circumstances." He asked his eyes sharp and deadly serious. I nodded.

"As long as I am with her then I will be able to keep her from reachig such a point. I have my fathers wand and the Amulet of Avalor and I will speak with my mother about getting Emma a simple magical neutralizer. It doesn't take the power away but It will dull it down to help her control it when she needs too." I said as I ran through all the possibilities and what I would need. King Roland looked at his step daughter.

" Sofia would this make you feel better?" He asked and I whipped my head back to her as she meekly nodded. I saw it then, the unmistakable fear written on her paled features as she stared at her father refusing to make eye contact with me.

" then it is settled. You have eight month until Emma's third birthday. By then you either have her magic under control or we strip her of it. I know this seems harsh Cedric but you have to understand I don't want anyone else getting hurt." The king said as he nodded once more at Sofia and waved his hand in dismissal before he stalked away and his wife whom has clamped her mouth shut and stayed in the back of the room followed him away after she shot me one last sad look.

Once I was sure he was out of earshot and I glanced around us to make sure that we were alone I turned on Sofia. She watched me sadly rooted to the same spot she had been since this all began.

"You did this, you wanted to take her power away. Her essance. Didn't I teach you better Sofia magic is a gift not a curse." I asked meaning to sound more diplomatic but even as my anger shifted I could hear my own sadness.

Instead of answering me Sofia sighed as she lifted her hair up and turned around so she could show me her neck. As soon as I saw the marks Martin her ivory skin I grabbed her hand and teleported us into my workshop. Standing in the light of the window I took a closer look.

May I lower your dress Sofia?" I asked as I ran my finger over one of the raised up slashes on her back. She nodded and I began to Unlace the strings of her corset.

All down her back were what looked like claw marks they looked to be a week or so old but still very bloody. I wondered how I had missed such a thing but her long hair hid it from view and it's not like I made a habit of seeing her naked.

"Emma did this Cedric. She tripped and fell but I knew she wasn't hurt. I thought if I picked her up and comforted her over nothing it would teach her that it was okay to overreact for attention. Someone told me that's what your suppose to do is let them get up on their own to teach independence. I thought I was doing a completely normal parenting thing. But because I wouldn't pick her up she threw a tantrum and lost control. She was so upset that tendrils of pure darkness began lashing out around her. One slashed my ankle and knocked me to the ground where all I could do was curl up and let my back take the damage. I spent the first week out of it. The healers in Freezenburg didn't know what to do because you can't heal dark magic. Emma was kept asleep using sleeping potions until I woke up and then I was told I had a week to return to Enchancia. Emma was too much of a threat and Queen Hildigard refused to let her kingdom be liable." She shivered as she spoke and then pulled her corset back up to cover the ugly lacerations. Part of me was so upset that Sofia had to suffer but there was another smaller part of me that hurt for completely other reasons.

"So you were coming home because you had no where else to go, not because you thought Emma needed me or that I needed to know the truth?" I don't even know why I voiced the thought, even as she gasped at the accusation I could see the guilt swimming in her cerulean eyes.

"Would you ever have told me if Emma didn't have these powers?" I asked while she struggled to think of what to say to my first accusation.

"Cedric! How can you say that?" She demanded as she bit her lip and glanced away quickly.

"Because I can tell. You forget how well I know you Sofia... You don't want this do you?" I said as I waved my arm between us trying not to let the pain show. This was such a roller coaster these last few days. I wasn't sure how much more I could take.

"Want what?" She asked sounding tired and I had to fight the urge to revert back into my old ways of turning tail and running when faced with something that made me uncomfortable.

Instead of running I chose to do something possibly just as foolish as I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. I had the sudden desire just to feel her as I pressed my lips to hers softly. She was obviously confused but I felt the corners of her lips pull up in a small smile and she sighed softly.

"Please just tell me you want to be a family. My whole life I never thought I would have a family and now that I do just the thought of loosing it so quickly is scaring the life out of me." I whispered as I clutched her close to me. I suppose that meant I finnaly made up my mind about my conflicted thoughts about her. If it was this or nothing at all then I would take this dysfunction any day.

" I want a family Cedric and I want it with you I just want a normal family. I don't want to be afraid anymore." She explained and I closed my eyes, I just couldn't do it. I can't take my own daughters magic away when it was such a big part of her.

"We will find the right path for us just have faith. I'm sure everything will be okay." I finnaly said and she nodded.

Not long after that I gave Sofia a tonic for the pain of her wounds, I wasn't even sure how she had hid it for so long without me even being aware that she was hurt but looking back at all the times she would look pale or tired prehaps I just hadn't been looking hard enough. She thanked me with a peck on my cheek and I could see that the tonic had helped almost immediatly.

I sent Sofia to spend some time resting in her room and promised that I would look after Emma. She looked so relieved at the notion that I laughed to myself.

When I made it to Emma's room I could hear her giggling and my smile widened until I heard a strange sound that sounded suspiciously like hissed whispering. I stood there with my ear pressed against the door trying to make out what was making the noise but after several minutes I decide to just open the door.

As soon as I was able to see the shadows in the room they disappeared and Emma looked up at me and grinned like a Cheshire Cat before she ran and attached herself to my leg. I smiled down at her and forced my worry back so that I wouldn't upset her.

"Did you have a good nap Emma?" I asked as I lifted her up. She grabbed two fist full so my hair and yanked. It didn't hurt but I shot her a warning glance as I pulled her hands away.

"Drink." She demanded and pointed down the hall changing tactics quickly. I nodded and so we embarked down the hall with her inspecting the decor a little more as we made our way. Once in the dinning hall I found Baileywick as he wiped the silver ware furiously looking a little put off. When he spotted me his eyes narrowed but he saw Emma and his expression melted back into his professional persona.

"Drink." Emma repeated as she pointed to the high chair. I chuckled at her enthusiasm and at how easily she bossed Baileywick around. Said butler nodded and quietly left the room to go o the kitchen and find her something to drink.

Emma wiggled her way out of my arms and then crawled into her little high chair to await her drink. She smiled up at me an clapped her hands so I took a seat next to her at the table. Even though King Roland or prehaps his wife had made a point to force me to dine with them several occasions in the last six months I still wasn't one hundred percent comfortable here. I preferred my dank little workshop to the brightly lit elegant castle. I don't know why it took me almost nine years to come full circle on that subject. Has is already been nine years since the first time Sofia came to the castle a bright eyed little girl?

Baileywick returned interrupting my thoughts holding a cup without a lid and I wondered if she could drink out of a regular cup. He threw her arms up and reached for the cup in excitment as he approached.

"Here you are Princess Emma I hope you like apple juice." Baileywick smiled as he sat the cup down in front of her. She eyed the open face of the lid cautiously.

"You have to be very careful when you drink from a big girl cup so you don't spill it. You are a big girl right?" I asked as I reached out to help her with the cup. She nodded making her ebony curls bounce.

She ended up handling the cup just fine with only minimal spillage but I was still glad that Baileywick had found a plastic cup and not given her any of the fine china. Emma grinned up at Baileywick in thanks who had been watching us discreetly while he continued to polish the silverware. He was caught off guard and smiled awkwardly at her.

After a moment she pointed to the floor so I let her out and pulled out my wand to conjur one of her toys. She squealed and hugged the doll. I was about to lead her out of the room when Baileywick cleared his throat. I turned to him with warning in my eyes, to show that I wouldn't do this here in front of Emma.

"Cedric I just wanted to..." He trailed off and I glared uninterested in his apologies after the things he said to me only hours ago. I was barely containing my anger from the days events and I didn't need anything else piling on top.

"Not now." I hissed between gritted teeth and he returne the hateful look as he scoffed and whipped off his coat to remove some invisible dust. Emma turned and dropped her doll as she watched our exchange with focused ibterest.

Suddenly she threw an arm at him and from out of it whipped one pulsating tendril of dark energy. It slithered as quick as lightning and grabbed Baileywick by the wrist and slung him down to the floor. He yelped but I doubted he was too injured.

"Emma No ma'am!" I shouted as I turned and wagged a finger at her when she looked into my tight eyes and the hard set of my face her eyes widened and tears welled in the rims. But she dropped her arm and the energy retracted back inside her. I shot Baileywick an apologetic look an lowered myself to Emma's level.

"It's not okay to hurt people Emma." I started and she turned away and covered her face under my scolding. I figured she was listening so I continued.

"Even if someone upsets you or makes you mad. It's not okay to hurt them because only when you give in to the darkness does it define you." I knew that the words I chose to use were prehaps a little out of her range but I said them anyways. She hugged me then so I ended up picking her up.

Baileywick stood in a state of shock. He rubbed his wrist as he watched us and I reached out and gently grabbed his wrist to examine it. It wasn't that bad, nothing like Sofia's wounds.

"It's just a deep bruise. I can give you a tonic for the pain of you like." I said As I let go of his wrist. He let out a shaky breath but shook his head.

"I'll be alright Cedric. I ah, thank you. I didn't know." He said as he glanced at Emma with a new understanding in his eyes.

"I didn't know." He repeated and I frowned. Well at least he wasn't mad anymore it seemed. Though the idea of him relaying these events to King Roland worried me.

"Don't tell the king. Please let me tell him myself. My mother is on her way as we speak to join us for dinner and afterwards were going to discus things. Join us, I believe that you deserve an explanation." I aske. As he thought this over, obviously he had no idea about the prophecy besideds what he heard through the rumor mill. He nodded and began to walk out of the room leaving his silverware on the table but a he passed he placed his wounded hand on my shoulder and exchanged worried looks with me.

As he passed I knew that at very least I had one more person on my side. As he glance at Emma I didn't see fear or anger only genuine worry as he would for any of the royals. I clutched Emma closer to me and decided to take her outside where it was less likely we would run Into anyone. I recalled Sofia's words about Emma not doing so well with people and it broke my heart. Would she ever have a normal life?

Kry: well a little short but there's chapter four! Let me know what you all think. Next chapter will cover the prophecy and the legend it was born from.