Hey peeps, I'm baaaaack! Did ya miss me? Oh, who am I kidding? You probably didn't miss me and my awesome Princess Bride quotes and LOTR memes...but I did! (BTW, there are only 190 days until Flashback comes out!!!!!) And. Guys. And gals. ALMOST 500 READS?!?!?!?!? How did I get such amazing readers?? Seriously, people, this is amazing. My mind cannot process this. (lol it's INCONCEIVABLE) So, I guess I'll post a chapter later to thank you...

HA! DID YOU FALL FOR IT? SORRY, THAT WAS MEAN OF ME. ANNNNYYYYWAAAAYYY, here's the chapter: 

Previously: 

"Some of you might not be aware that the winner of the competition receives a second prize!" Terik exclaimed.

Oh, no. Surely he wasn't-

"The winner also obtains the beautiful Lady Sophie's hand in marriage!" he gestured to me as if I were a prize.

I felt my cheeks flame, and I stared at the ground. Several people hooted. The court would be gossiping about this for days. Thankfully, the court session was over. So, I stood from my chair, motioned for Dex to follow me, and strode out the door.  

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As we waited for Sophie to return, I was subjected to more of Keefe's teasing and more crazy theories about Will Scarlet's real identity. Guess who brought that last one up.

"Guys, I have a new theory about who Will Scarlet is!" Keefe stopped his teasing abruptly.

Linh dragged her hands over her face, and I felt like doing the same. "Not again!"

"No, it's good! It's good!" Keefe insisted.

Tam and I looked at each other, then back at Keefe, skeptical.

"Well, I know who the real Will Scarlet is," Vertina said.

"You do?" we all asked at the same time.

"Yes," Vertina hesitated, "but I'm not telling you."

I groaned, then thought for a moment. "You do realize I could read your mind, right?" I asked her.

"You're welcome to try," Vertina smirked.

I closed my eyes and stretched my mind out to reach hers. Instead of gaining access, however, my mind hit a brick wall. I pulled back and opened my eyes in disbelief. Vertina was a telepath?

"What?" I asked, very confused.

"Sophie created my blocking," Vertina explained. "We can't have you knowing all of m'lady's secrets now, can we?"

"How does Sophie have that kind of ability?" Linh asked. "Fitz is, like, the strongest telepath known to elves!"

"That's a question only Lady Sophie can answer," Vertina winked.

"Wow," I breathed, slightly jealous.

"So does that mean Sophie knows who Will Scarlet is?" Keefe scratched his head. "I'm confused."

We heard a loud knock at the door, and Sophie stormed through the entrance, her cape flying behind her. Dex was at her heels, and she slammed the door with a bang. You could almost feel the anger radiating off of her, and I jumped.

"Can you believe him?" Sophie face planted into her bed and moaned into the pillows. "The court will be gossiping about this for days."

"What happened?" Vertina asked.

Sophie rolled over and propped her chin up on her hands and elbows. Her hair was a mess, and I loved her for it. Heavens, Sophie was beautiful.

"Transmit?" Sophie asked.

"Fine," teased Keefe. "We'll find out sooner or later! You can't hide anything from the amazing Keefe."

Dex and Tam rolled their eyes.

"What Keefe meant to say was that he will respect your privacy," I kicked him in the shins. "Right, Keefe?"

"Ow," Keefe grumbled.

"No, way, Terik didn't!" Vertina laughed.

"Yep, he did," Dex smirked. "I think we'll have to wrap you up and tie a bow in your hair for tomorrow!"

"Deeeexxxxx." Sophie buried her face in the pillows again.

"We'll need a label, too!" Vertina clapped her hands.

"Ohh," Keefe breathed. "And I thought I was the best at making Sophie blush! That was amazing."

"WAIT. WHAT?!" Sophie suddenly shouted.

She shot out of her bed and stalked across the room towards me. Sophie looked angry.

"You tried to search Vertina's mind?" she sounded hurt. "Why would you do that?"

"She gave me permission!" I shouted, my temper rising. "She said she knew who Will Scarlet is!"

Sophie paled and the room went silent for a few minutes. Dex, Vertina, and Sophie seemed to be having an intense telepathic conversation, and it was interesting to watch their facial expressions without context. Sophie looked like she was trying to hide something, Dex looked like he wanted to stab something, and Vertina's eyes were narrowed to slits.

Sophie suddenly turned and walked to the marble balcony, and stared out at the courtyard sundial. I started to go over to her, but Linh put a hand on my arm.

"Give her some space," Linh said.

After about ten minutes, she came back inside, cheeks wet with tears. A pang of guilt stabbed me. I had caused this.

"I need to get ready," whispered Sophie.

"Already?" Keefe tried to tease.

Vertina glared at him and ducked behind the screen with Sophie. Once they were out of sight, Dex glared at me.

"What?" I asked.

"You really can't tell?" Dex sneered. "You caused this! The burns, the injuries, the tears-"

"Dex, stop!" Sophie cried. "Yes, it's partly Fitz's fault."

I felt my heart break a little bit.

"But Brant's the one who hurt me. And I should have been more careful. If Stina hadn't seen-" Sophie started.

"Wait, hold up," Tam said slowly. "Stina saw us?"

Sophie's shadow shrugged. "The only reason that Brant burned me was that he thought I was cheating on Lord Fintan."

"How can you say that like it's no big deal?" Keefe asked.

"Brant lost his fiancee Jolie in a terrible accident," Sophie said quietly. "Brant used to be like family, but now he's unstable."

Prince Brant? Like family? Inconceivable.

"Someday, it will change," Dex said wistfully. "Someday."

"Ugh, I really hate these dresses," Sophie muttered.

"Me too," Linh agreed. "I always felt trapped when I wore them."

"You wore dresses?" Keefe and Dex asked at the same time.

"Of course," Linh winked at Dex and he blushed. "I was nobility once too, you know."

The shadows in the room seemed to stretch.

Vertina stepped from behind the screen and waved her arms dramatically as Sophie followed.

"Wow," I breathed, unable to take my eyes off of her.

Sophie was wearing a ruby red off the shoulder dress, with sleeves that belled out at the end. Her long, wavy blonde hair fell down to her waist. A braided crown held a delicate circlet in place that glittered in the firelight.

"Red is definitely your color," I said as she blushed.

(A/N: dang that's such a cliche line...I LOVE IT.)

"Sophie, you look amazing!" Linh complimented.

"I don't exactly feel amazing," Sophie snorted. "I might pass out tonight due to lack of blood circulation."

Keefe poked Sophie's stomach. "Are wearing chainmail under there by chance, m'lady?"

"Thus the folly of a corset," Sophie sighed. "Oh, no. NO."

"What?" I asked.

"Please?" Vertina begged.

"I am NOT wearing those torture devices," Sophie pointed to the very high heels that Vertina was holding up. "Not the eyes, please!"

"C'mon, Sophie," Linh joined in the pleading.

"Fine. Fine. Just this once," Sophie glared at both of them.

"Wait, doesn't Fitz have to be in disguise?" Tam asked.

"Unfortunately, no," Sophie sighed. "Tiergan will be there. He has agreed, by the way. So that means-"

"You have to dance with him," Dex finished.

"And my escort will be Lord Fintan," Sophie shuddered.

"Ewww," Tam wrinkled his nose.

"Even I prefer Sophitz over Finphie. Because...blah," Dex fake gagged.

A loud knock interrupted them, and Dex, Sophie, and Vertina froze.

"Everyone hide!" Sophie whisper-shouted.

Tam, Keefe, Linh, Dex, Vertina, and I crammed into Sophie's too-small closet. The door opened, revealing an evil-looking Lord Fintan. He stared at Sophie's chest shamelessly, trailing a finger down her cheek. Sophie shivered, and Fintan smiled. I balled my hands into fists.

"You look exquisite tonight," he smiled wider and kissed her.

It took Dex, Keefe, Tam, Linh, and Vertina to keep me from charging out of the closet.

"Lord Fintan," Sophie said coldly, breaking away.

Fintan scowled. "Let's not forget who's in charge here."

He slapped her.

That stupid idiot slapped my lady.

He was going to pay.

"Let's go," Fintan said as he dragged her out the door. 

Sincerely,

⤮ Meels  

P.S. COMMENT if you know what show that picture up top is from. Two words: Adrien Agreste. ;) Lol that's me right now...