I have a weak will-power. Shut up. (Read : I love you BlazingFlames22 and lilypotter72, thanks for the reviews!)
The ultimate disclaimer: I not only do not own the character, but the chapters' title neither. This fic has been imagined while listening to a band named 'Amaranthe' and I decided to name chapters after the songs I listened when writing them, as an homage of sort. It's a peculiar style, but if you want to hear the atmosphere I gave to that story, you can youtube it. :)
Let's hope I gave closure to the characters.
Sometimes, Max Lightwood felt lonely.
He didn't regret, but he did wonder what his life would have been if he had drank from the Mortal Cup a year ago.
'Shadowhunting...' he mused in his mind. To hunt the darkness that spawned in the world. A second line of heavenly defence for when preventing didn't work.
Sometimes, the youngest Lightwood wondered what it would have been like to follow his family – and so many others – in the daily life of fighting and protecting. But then he remembered that he wasn't a fighter. Max would have never been happy. Sure being with his parents and siblings would have brought him some joy, but not the happiness only self-accomplishment could entice. On earth, as a mortal warrior, he wouldn't have been able to dedicate his life in researching how to severe the bond between the demons' summoning and mundanes' misery. Or he could, but not with the same access to angelic knowledge and the same focus an immortal life provided.
No, he didn't regret his decision, he really believed that he could help in his own way.
Of course, he missed his family.
There were other people with him here. Sebastian, Aline's cousin, was quite sympathetic, and that old lady, Amatis, even if she treated him like a little boy, was still pretty loving and pleasant to be with. 'Oh, and Hodge!' he thought with excitement. That angel was weird, a bit moody and always seemed to despise everyone, but now and then he would tell Max about a lot of different things. And that man knew a lot about everything. He was a human encyclopedia and that is why Max loved him so.
It's not like he would never see his family anyway. He knew that after their mortal lives end, he would be there for their 'passing'. And there were special moments when he would allow himself to gaze down toward them.
Special events like today.
It's been a year.
365 days ago, Raziel was summoned by Jonathan Shadowhunter to create a new species, holy yet earth bond.
A year ago, his brother defeated one of the seven fallen... When Max was only a cherub, he always looked up to Jace, the one who could sway so many with his charm and was skillful in everything. As much as it pained him now, he must admit he always had discredited Alec a bit. If he could speak to his younger self... Max hoped Alec knew he admired him.
'Okay, enough.' he thought shaking his head. Now wasn't the time to reminisce nostalgic memories. Today was a special event. Setting himself in a peaceful corner, he closed his eyes and projected himself on earth...
Amaranthus Caudatus.
That's what they were, everywhere one could look at. Scarlet red entangled with dark purple, slowly swaying under the soft breeze. The serene meadow, like a carmine prismatic blanket, was so vast, its quiet bright beauty reached the horizon. Over the field of flowers, the Indonesian sky was tainted in a blazing yellow from the fading sun. It was only disturbed by the orange and pink clouds that, just like delicate paint brushes, were splattered here and there.
Love lies bleeding and in the middle of the fiery canvas it was portraying stood a man.
The man wasn't alone.
Beside him stood a handful of people. All of them looked elegant, dressed in black mostly, only he was wearing a golden tie, matching his eyes.
His hair, black and silky, was left loose. The lazy wind brushed some strands past his face, uncovering it and showing his dark caramel skin and his eyes. Oh, his eyes... His golden eyes, slitted in the middle like a cat's, were shimmering.
They shone with an intense love when Magnus settled his gaze upon me.
I walked toward him, and tried not to blush too much as all eyes were on me. Although mine were steadily on Magnus – how could I not look at him? - I could feel my parents' fond gaze and Isabelle's proud one. Simon was also there with his a bit too happy grin. Jace was smirking knowingly as he probably felt my giddy nervousness in our bond as much as I felt his amusement. By his side, Clary simply smiled from happiness. They were my family and I was glad to have them by my side.
Will and Jem where there too beside Aline and Helen and with them the only friend Magnus had invited – the only one that he cared enough about to invite he had said – Catarina Loss. She was a warlock too. Even without my renewed sight rune, I could notice her pale blue skin. She was a pragmatic person, but held a genuine concern for others. I liked them and was happy to share Magnus and I's moment with them too.
Seeing them in that crimson landscape made me realize how far we got.
So much happened in the last year.
Simon, who had been struck by the Mortal Sword, was allowed to drink from the Mortal Cup and ascend from mundane to the half-mundane, half-angel species we were. He had desperately wanted to join us, follow my sister where ever she would go. James – as I hadn't been fit to do so at the time – had spoken of his courageous act to save my life. After hitting him, Izzy kissed him senseless.
He might be annoying sometimes, but I had been teaching him archery since his ascension. He had potential and I had been – not that I'll ever admit it – looking forward teaching him some more complex techniques, enjoying our lessons, or whatever he has been calling those...
'' Ready, Simon?'' I asked him as he nodded and got up. He had been in the kitchen with Isabelle who had a confuse look on her face.
'' What are you guys planning? Nothing Magnus or I should worry about, right?'' she had said smiling slyly. I knew she was saying those things just to make me react, and it worked every time.
'' No. We -'' I started, blushing.
'' Your brother and I are having a bonding bromance moment. It happens from times to times, but don't worry, my heart still belongs to you.'' Simon had interrupted me to say.
I still didn't know what it meant, but Izzy had found that hilarious.
Jace Isabelle and Clary of course drank from the cup. It was what we had wished since the beginning, our possible paradise. Right after our transformation, Isabelle and Jace caught me in a hug, both holding me like I was on the verge of fading. Even if I was exhausted, in pain and confused, I tried my best to reciprocate their embrace. It felt so good to have them back. With my parabatai here, I felt whole again and with my sister's presence, a weight lifted from my shoulder.
Maryse and Robert, our parent, drank too, feeling that they could do their duty better that way.
Only Max hadn't followed...
James and Will had a heart-wrenching moment before drinking from the Mortal Cup. It had seemed that for the Herondale, it was an obvious choice. It would be their only chance to be together without being renegades, as they were parabatai and in love.
He hadn't thought that maybe Valentine had done more damage than Jem let going on.
'' I can't drink from the cup.''
Will scoffed at that. '' What? Of course you can, drinking isn't that hard. It involves the tongue, which I know you-''
'' Will, please listen to me.'' calmly and sadly said James, raising his gaze to look at him.
'' What's going on? Why don't you want to do this anymore?'' asked Will. When Jem backed away from him, he tried to hide the hurt, but even for me it was plain as the day.
'' I... You know, my wings had been ripped, and not with heavenly or demonic fire. They've been yanked out, unwillingly. My body is not supporting me, William...'' he stated, leaning on a cane that Brother David had gave him upon arrival.
'' What do you mean?'' the black haired angel asked, desperation making his tone sharper than intended.
'' I... I mean to say that I might not survive the transformation. Look how I already physically changed! And 'if' I do survive, I might not be as strong, I might not live as long, I might-''
'' 'Through this bond we are together, and together we can survive anything.' '' interrupted Will, fierceness in his blue eyes. '' Aren't you willing to try?''
'' What?''
'' That is what you said when you wanted to rebel for us. 'Through this bond we are together, and together we can survive anything.' You... you said that. You can, no, we can survive this. As for your lesser life expectancy... Well I'll be mortal too, I am not immune to sickness or accidents and I am certainly not above getting killed by a demon. No one is guaranteed to live and die at the same time, yet I am still ready to take my chance... Aren't you?'' Will wholeheartedly declared.
His words stroke something inside me and suddenly, the worries I had about my mortality and Magnus' immortality seemed... futile compared to the life we could have. And with everything that has happened, it seemed such far away worries, it's like they faded when we were in those life-death situations.
'Yes.' I mentally answered Will's question, leaning more onto Magnus. He was sitting besides me, exhausted by the over use of his magic in the fight and to heal me. He had continued to cleanse my blood from demon poisoning – now that the Mortal Instruments had rendered me half-mundane – even after my heart stopped, unwilling to give up,
''... I-I am.'' answered James, smiling softly.
'' That's my Jem.'' answered back Will, taking his arms to help him. '' Show me how resilient a Carstairs is.''
And now they were all gathered here, Shadowhunters and Warlocks that we cared about. I wished Max was here...
I reached Magnus and he took my hands in between his. I felt the air crackle with magic and a seal appeared at our feet. In its orange glow, his gaze seemed even more golden. How it was possible I had no idea, but I was melting and falling for him even more.
Jace placed himself in front of us and began to speak, like I had asked him to. As my parabatai, I thought it felt right and Magnus had no problem with it. Jace would never tell, but I knew he had taken my proposition really seriously and made all the research and acquired all the permits he needed. He cleared his throat in a uselessly loud to get all of our attention, but my eyes were set on only one person right now. It looked like it was the same for him too.
'' A year ago, all of us, who had been lost and dreaming of an uncertain future, finally had been able to found our way back and dare to do more than simply hope. A year ago, our dream came true. A year ago, the future became a possibility.
'' We are gathered here to celebrate that fact, and we are doing it by witnessing the love of Alexander Lightwood and Magnus Bane, as of today, they shall be united by the sacred bond of marriage.'' he solemnly declared and I knew it was time.
Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself to tell my vow.
'' Magnus Bane.'' I started. '' In the past year, you have managed to make me the happiest man alive. In the midst of adjusting to this life we had, you managed to make me fall for you over and over again. We had our fights, but we always managed to understand the other and reconcile.'' I began.
The first time it happened, it was two weeks after the event at Lake Lyn.
We had been in a club Magnus liked. He had wanted to dance and how could I had had refused? If it was with him, the idea of dancing in the middle of sweaty people was slightly less disturbingly repulsive. And if it made him smile like it did when I'd told him ''Sure.'', it wouldn't be all that horrible enough...
How wrong had I been.
The dancing wasn't bad, I always longed for Magnus' touch anyway. The presence of others didn't even bother me, as my focus was solely on my lover. I had been overwhelmed by him, my mind buzzing, distracted by the electrical jolt I felt every time our skin touched...
The dancing hadn't been a bad experience at all.
I left Magnus only for two minutes to grab us a drink – who knew dancing was that exhausting? - and as soon as I came back, I felt it. That faintly familiar cold feeling in my stomach, caused by the sight of a girl speaking and leaning toward my Magnus, settled in me. I froze on the spot, unable to do anything else than stare.
It's the sharp noise of shattering glass that got me out of my daze and got Magnus' attention. Looks like I had broken one of the drinks I had been holding. 'When did I applied that much force?' I was thinking when Magnus reached me, He took my hand and started to heal it right away. Lately, it, s like he couldn't tolerate the sight of my blood, even if it came from small cuts like the drinking glass.
'' What were you doing?'' I coldly asked him and it seemed to startle him.
'' What?'' he asked, frowning, clearly confused.
'' She was so close of you Magnus. I thought you than anyone else knew how to recognize flirting. Even I could see it!'' I continued. Something clicked in his mind as his confused and slightly defensive stance morphed into an amused one. It only managed to annoy me a little bit more.
'' Are you jealous my darling?'' he asked. My annoyance quickly erased and the cold feeling – jealousy?- transformed into guilt. 'Was I already tempted? Did jealousy really already had it's hold on me&' I asked myself. It has been two week that I was half-mundane and already I was sinning? How could I defend the mundanes if I was -
Soft butterfly kisses interrupted my thoughts. '' Don't fret, Alexander. Some sins are innocent and born from good feelings.'' He said and I kissed him, succumbing to another sin.
'' I love you, Magnus. ''
Nothing I could say would describe how I felt better. It was as simle as that, I loved him.
'' Like the amaranth that are surrounding us, my love for you will never wilt. Like the fire that burned me more than once, I will burn with passion for you. Like the simple man I am, I still dare to ask you to be mine'' I finished. We had agreed to each make our own vows, but take the more or less same ending. It might have been short – I had never been good with words – but I had pour my all heart in it and from the smile I received from him, he had felt it.
'' Alexander Lightwood.'' he started softly. '' I never thought I would feel love the same way I do right now. Not once did someone had that much hold on my heart. But with you I belong. A year ago, I almost lost you twice, but whatever it is we'll face, we will face it together and we will prevail. I more than believe it, I know it. I love you, Alexander. Like the amaranth that are surrounding us, my love for you will never fade. Like the fire of the hell I come from, I will burn with passion for you. Like the simple man I am, I still dare to ask you to be mine.'' With each words he said, the seal shortened, as if to get us closer and closer.
As the yellow of the sky turned golden by the setting sun, I drowned in my soon-to-be husband's eyes. As Jace was speaking, I was lost in my thoughts.
Did I believe that I'll be able to be happy with this man by my side for my whole life? Did I believe I wasn't trivial for him anymore? Did I believe that I would I burn and fall again for this life?
'' I do.''
Do leave me one last time your opinion, whether you read it right at the moment it has been published or a year after. Compliment/critics/interrogation/randomness are all welcomed.
I hope you enjoyed. I did, and I think my writing skills have developed a bit through the story. It is all thanks to you guys.