Malec Tales Series 2: Chapter Nine- Now What?
Alec Pov- "Okay, whoever's not dead, sound off," Jace yelled as he tried to pull himself out of a foot of snow. Clary and I both just groaned in response, making Jace sigh. "I'll accept that."
Clary wiped the snow from her hair before looking up at the cliff we were thrown from, frowning. "I can't believe the king actually had us thrown from the mountain. He must really want to be alone."
I gritted my teeth at that. "Magnus shouldn't have to be alone. He has been alone for most of his life. Now that his secret is out, he doesn't have to distance himself from me or his people. They will accept him, I know they will."
Jace frowned at that. "Are you forgetting that he struck you with his magic?"
"He didn't mean to do it. I pushed him again and caused him to lash out. It was my fault, not his."
"You can't put all the blame onto yourself Alec," Clary sighed, still frowning at me. I rolled my eyes, not in the mood to argue with them about this. I was cold, hungry, and my chest felt like an elephant was sitting on it.
"I can't go back to Alicante without bringing back the summer. If I can't fix this… what am I going to do?"
Jace put his hand on my shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. "I'm sure we will figure it out. Clary and I can't really leave while our boat is frozen in the docks. We need to figure out this weather just as much as you do."
Clary thought it over for a minute before snapping her fingers. "Didn't you say the only people Magnus interacted with were his tutors?"
I nodded. "Yeah, Magnus just informed me that they were really warlocks helping him try to keep control of his powers."
She smiled. "Even better. We can track them down and see if they have the power to fix what Magnus has done. Maybe they would even be able to talk him down from that mountain for you Alec."
She had a point there. They are the only people Magnus let get close to him all these years. If anyone could talk him into coming back to Alicante, it could be them. Also, if they were teaching him how to use his magic, maybe they really can help bring the summer back.
Simon smiled, holding up his stick arms excitedly. "Great! Then we go looking for the warlocks… how do we go about looking for the warlocks?"
I leaned against the mountain, thinking about that. "Their names are Ragnor Fell and Catarina loss. There must be someone who knows where they are. Maybe if we ask around, we will get a location."
Jace raised an eyebrow at that. "Who are we supposed to ask? We are in the middle of a winter wasteland, remember?"
"We could always head back to Alicante and ask the villagers if they know anyone with those names," Clary suggested, shrugging.
"It's better then nothing. I really didn't want to go back to the kingdom until everything was fixed," I sighed, running my hand through my hair. When I looked back at Jace and Clary, they were both staring at me wide eyed.
"What are you two looking at?"
Clary walked up to me, running her fingers through my hair. "Your hair is becoming white."
I frowned at that. "We all just fell off a cliff. We all have white in our hair right now. Beside that, I was born with… I mean, Magnus gave me a small white streak in my hair when I was little. It's nothing new."
Jace shook his head. "Alec, you're not understanding. The streak in your hair is spreading. It's gotten a lot bigger."
"What?" I walked over to a sheet of ice, looking at my reflection in it. Like they said, the white streak in my hair had spread. It used to just be a small strand at the top of my head, but now it was taking up almost the whole right side of my hair.
Clary frowned. "Magnus hurt you back there. He struck you with his magic."
I glanced away putting my hand over my chest. "I already told you that it was my fault."
"Your fault or not, it doesn't change the fact that he hurt you. Now your hair is turning white and who knows what else could happen to you. We need to find those Warlocks as soon as possible," Jace grumbled, starting to walk back toward the woods.
"Are you okay to walk," Clary asked, making me roll my eyes.
"My hair is turning white. It's not like I'm actually hurting anywhere."
Honestly, my chest was killing me, but I wasn't going to tell them that. The last thing I needed was them fretting over me. I already feel like a pathetic king. Getting anymore help then I already need would just make me feel worse about myself.
We made our way through the woods silently and I was thankful for it. Clary and Jace glanced back at me every five seconds to make sure I didn't keel over and die on the spot. It was really starting to drive me crazy.
"Can we please focus on something else besides my hair," I asked irritably. Clary frowned at me, looking like she was going to argue, but suddenly a new question appeared in her eyes.
"Actually yeah, lets talk about something else. How about we talk about the fact that Jonathan Morgenstern is the man you are engaged to."
I frowned at that, not wanting it to be the topic of discussion. "Do you know him?"
Jace looked at me like I was crazy. "Do you not know who we are?"
I shook my head no. "You didn't really give me a formal title. All you said was your names."
Jace ran his hand over his face before he gestured to Clary. "This is Princess Clarissa Morgenstern of the kingdom of Edom."
My eyes widened in shock. "You're the little sister that is taking over as Queen of Edom?" I looked over at Jace, even more shocked if that was possible. "You're the peasant boy that she fell in love with?"
"I really don't like the term 'peasant boy.' Makes me sound poor. I may not be from royal blood but I'm still of high class."
"Actually, Jace's family owns a farm and they make close to nothing because of the resources we get from the surrounding kingdoms," Clary interjected, making Jace throw his hands up in frustration.
"Betrayed by my own fiancé."
"Anyway," Clary dismissed him, looking at me again. "Back to the topic at hand. How can you be engaged to my brother? None of this makes any sense."
I shrugged, starting to walk again forcing them to follow me. "I don't see what the big deal is. Jonathan and I met at the shopping area yesterday before the coronation. He bought me the arrow necklace I'm wearing and helped me get a gift for Magnus. We met again at the party and we spent some time dancing at talking together. I confided in him about how Magnus rejecting me has been affecting me and he… he told me he can help me forget about him. Then he proposed, and I said yes."
The silence returned, and I wish I could say it was because they understood and wanted to drop the subject now. It wasn't because of that. In fact, it was the complete opposite. They both stared at me like I was the craziest person on earth. Even more so then when I told them I was engaged after only knowing the guy for a day.
Clary was finally the one to break the silence. "That sounds nothing like Jonathan. He threw the biggest fit I have ever seen when father told him he wouldn't be king. I bet he didn't even want to go to the coronation. Father made him because Jace and I were on vacation."
"He did mention his sister galivanting, as he put it. Just because he was mad about not being king doesn't make him a bad person. Anyone would be furious after learning that their younger sibling would take the role they always thought would be theirs."
Jace shook his head. "Don't make excuses for him Alec. Jonathan has a lot of issues. There is no way he would ever give up his prince title to be a servant with you. Hell, I don't even know if he's into guys."
A tick formed in my jaw by how irritated I was getting. "Jonathan said he went through a rebellious stage but is over it now. He's trying to better himself as a person. Is it really that hard to believe that someone would give up their crown because they love me?"
"Anyone else but Jonathan, no," Jace said simply.
I grunted, throwing my hands in the air. "You two are being impossible."
Clary watched me before looking at Jace. "Looks like I will be having a conversation with my brother when we get to the castle."
I whipped around glaring at her. "No, you will not. When we get to town the two of you will ask the villagers if they know a Catarina and Ragnor. As for me, I will go to the castle alone and talk to the head servant. If anyone might know something about where they are, it would be him."
Michael seemed to know everything that goes on in the castle. It was near impossible to keep a secret from him. There's no way Magnus's powers could have slipped passed him all these years.
"But Alec," Clary started but I cut her off with a, "no buts!"
She grumbled under her breath but didn't say another word on the matter. Jace seemed to be done too so I nodded triumphantly and started walking again.
Simon looked between all of us, obviously having no clue what was going on. I ignored him as well, the rest of the long tread through the woods being in silence.
When we finally got to the kingdom, everything looked ten times worse than before. The palace was covered head to toe in ice, and the villagers were wondering around shivering from the temperature that seemed to drop lower every minute.
Clary frowned looking around. "I was always told that Alicante was one of the most beautiful kingdoms of all. Right now, it just seems cursed."
I glared at her. "Magnus did not curse us. I already have everyone else saying that. I don't need you thinking it too. All of this was an accident and Magnus will fix it. He just needs some help."
Jace looked around wearily. "Do you really think he will? He seemed content hiding away on that mountain."
"Enough! This is where we all split up. Jace and Clary, ask the villagers if they know anything about Catarina and Ragnor. Simon, stay hidden and for the love of god, don't talk to anyone."
"Aw, I wanted to meet some new friends," he whined.
I ignored him, turning away from everyone and making my way back to the castle. Villagers wore faces of relief as I passed by. Greeting me by bowing their heads and calling me 'prince'. The title made me cringe, but even more so were the questions about the king. I didn't have an answer for them yet.
That didn't ease anyones worries one bit.
Finally, I got to the castle gates, where maids were already waiting with blankets and hot chocolate in hand. I smiled at one, taking the mug from her and sipping at it as I made my way into the palace.
"Have I missed anything?"
One of the maids, Vivian, shook her head no. "Prince Jonathan has been doing an excellent job taking care of the villagers. He's out right now helping the guards deliver blankets and warm food."
I smiled slightly, happy that Jonathan was taking such good care of Magnus's people. How could he possibly be as bad as Clary and Jace said? They just couldn't look past his old behavior."
"Alec, you're back" Isabelles voice hit my ears. Before I knew it, her and Max's bodies were slamming into me hard. I almost fell over but managed to balance as I held them tight.
"You guys act like I was gone for months. I was only gone over night."
Isabelle looked up and gasped, seeing the white in my hair had spread. "What happened to you?"
I shook my head, "sorry, I don't have time to talk about that right now. Do you know where I can find Michael?"
"You can find him behind you," Michaels voice came from down the hall. I turned around as sure enough, he was walking up to us. Once he got in front of me, he looked over my hair before meeting my eyes.
"How about you and I go somewhere private to talk?"
I nodded "I think that's a good idea. I have a lot of questions."
He nodded before looking at Isabelle and Max. "Go back to helping the cooks. We are going to need a lot more food."
They hesitated for a moment before Isabelle nodded and grabbed Max's hand, pulling him toward the kitchen. I watched them go for a moment before walking away with Michael. He led me to the library where he locked the door before we sat.
His eyes searched my hair before meeting my eyes. "Magnus struck you with his magic, didn't he?"
I glanced away frowning, before gasping and looking back at him. "You know about Magnus's powers? Did you know about him attacking me when I was little?"
"I wouldn't call it an attack. You both were playing, and he made a mistake. There was no ill intent behind it."
I looked down at my clenched hands in my lap before looking back up at him. "Please Michael. I need to know what happened between Magnus and I. He told me that he attacked me and that was why he stopped talking to me. Did everyone know about this but me?"
He shook his head frowning. "The only people outside of the royal family that knew about Magnus's powers were your father and me. We found out when he was a baby. You once knew about the magic as well but were unaware that your father knew too. As far as you knew, it was a secret you and Magnus shared."
"Magnus told me that two warlocks took my memories of his powers. Do you know who they are?"
He nodded. "Catarina loss and Ragnor Fell. They come here twice a week to help Magnus with his powers. There have been times when Magnus would have such bad panic attacks, that he would seal his room shut with ice. I've had to call them here a few times to help calm him down."
"Have you had much contact with Magnus the last ten years," I asked softly.
He nodded. "I tutored him in his royal classes since he still had much to learn."
I glanced away thinking before looking back at him hesitantly. "Did it ever seem like… do you think he missed me?"
The smile that appeared on Michaels face was incredibly sad. "Oh Alec, you have no idea how much he misses you. He's absolutely miserable without you."
He leaned back in his chair looking up and a small chuckle escaped his lips. I looked at him curiously. "What?"
He shrugged. "I was just thinking of the past. When you both were eight, Magnus would come to the kitchen at least once a day and announce to your father that he was going to marry you someday. He would say that you were going to be his queen and he wanted to give you the universe. Of course, we laughed it off thinking it was just a childish whim."
I could feel the heat taking over my cheeks as I listened to his story. "It wasn't a whim. Magnus and I had a special bond when we were little. I never could describe it, but the closest word for it was love. I thought it was love anyway."
"Magnus only distanced himself from you because he loves you Alec. He doesn't want you to get hurt again like you were before." He glanced up at my hair again. "Though it seems it was inevitable."
I ran my hand through my hair sighing. "I messed up… again. It seems all I ever do is mess up when it comes to Magnus. Why can't things be as simple as it was when we were children?"
Michael smiled sadly at me again. "The thing about children is that they live in a sheltered world. Eventually, the illusion is shattered and reality sets in. That happened way too soon for you and Magnus. What happened can't be changed though. All you can do is face that reality and figure out how to live with it."
I wrapped my arms around my stomach, leaning forward so I was hunched over. "Magnus doesn't want to be anywhere near me. He's too afraid of what would happen."
"Magnus loves you Alec."
I let that sink in for a moment before closing my eyes tight, feeling sick to my stomach. "He told me he was in love with me. That just makes all his rejections hurt ten times worse. How could he treat me like that if he loves me? Who treats the person they love so coldly like that?"
Michael cocked his head to the side. "What about you? Are you in love with him as well?"
The knots in my stomach felt twenty times worse at that question. Every fiber of my being was screaming yes! I do love Magnus! I love him so much that I would die for him!
That's the thing though. I do die for Magnus already. Every day my feelings for him are killing me. The rejection, the cold shoulder, the silence.
It's all slowly killing me day by day.
How much longer would I have been able to stand at his door, praying for him to open it? How much longer would I have been okay with only catching glimpse of him every few months? How much longer can I wait here for him to sweep me off my feet the way he used to when we were children?
No, I can't wait anymore. I can't deal with the rejection anymore.
That's why I need to choose Jonathan.
I have no choice.
If I stay where I am now… there won't be any part of me left.
"I need to find Catarina and Ragnor," I whispered softly, wanting to change the subject. "They may be the only ones who can help Magnus with this. Maybe they can bring back the summer themselves. That, or they can talk him into coming back to Alicante. Do you know where they live?"
Michael watched me silently for a moment before nodding. "I know where they live. They left last night on business and returned this morning. They came to the castle demanding to know what happened to Magnus. After I told them he was gone, they immediately left. Either they went out to find him, or they are home making a potion to help calm Magnus down. They always used those to help get him to stop panicking."
"great, then I will check their homes. Please give me the address."
He nodded grabbing some paper and a pen before writing it down for me. Once he handed it to me I folded it up and stuffed it in my pocket, standing up on my feet.
"I'm going to head out now."
Michael stood up frowning. "Alec, wait. I think we should talk about how you're feeling. Magnus attacked you. Last time that happened you almost died. Let the guards deal with Magnus so you can get looked at."
"Only Catarina and Ragnor know how to help me. Either way I need to find them. Please don't try to stop me. Magnus needs help and I am the one who is going to do so."
Even if it makes him hate me.
Michael searched me with his eyes before sighing and stepping away from the door, letting me leave the library. I nodded my head in appreciation before making my way out of the room. I didn't have time to worry about myself. Magnus needed help.
Magnus needed me.
I ran down the hall and as I turned the corner, I almost slammed face first into Jonathan. He caught me before I could, grabbing my arms chuckling slightly. "Woah, Alec slow down. Wait, when did you get back? Why didn't you come tell me?"
I frowned slightly as I looked up into those green eyes. Usually staring at them gave me butterflies in my stomach but now… now I didn't feel anything. That's not true. There was one feeling there.
Dread.
This isn't fair! It was supposed to be him! He was supposed to be my new start in a life where I don't worry about Magnus! Of course, life couldn't be that simple! One I love you from Magnus and everything gets torn apart.
What did I do to deserve this?
"Alec… what's wrong? Why is your hair so white?" He frowned, the green of his eyes getting dark and intense. "Did Magnus hurt you?"
I shook my head, putting my hands on his arms and detaching them from my own. "Magnus didn't do this. It's a long story. I tried to bring him home, but he locked himself up in an ice castle on the top of a mountain."
He frowned at that. "Is he going to bring back the summer?"
"That's the thing, he doesn't know how. Just thinking about it is making him even more stressed and afraid. There's a chance this winter may never go away, and honestly, I don't know what to do about it. I'm so lost right now, and I can't keep track of everything going on."
Jonathan looked like he was thinking it over before he smiled at me. "What if I was the one who brought him back?"
That caused me to frown at him. "I couldn't even do that. You bringing him back is even more unlikely."
"Alec, Magnus is too afraid to be reasoned with right now. The royal guards were talking to me about using tranquilizer guns to bring Magnus back. If they get him to sleep and carry him home, maybe we will be able to help him figure out how to stop all this."
The very idea of that made me furious.
"Magnus is not some wild animal that needs sedated! How can you even mention such a thing to me!?"
"Alec listen, you are too close to this. You and I both know that Magnus won't come quietly. The least we can do is bring him back here and get him to bring back the summer. Once everything is fixed, if he doesn't want to be king anymore we will let him have that choice. He can leave or stay, it will be completely up to him."
I bit my lip still hating the idea, but he had a point. Magnus wasn't going to leave that castle willingly. We were running out of options.
"Promise… promise he won't get hurt?"
Jonathan put his hand over his heart before bowing to me. "On my honor, I swear that Magnus will not be harmed. He is the king. He will be treated as such."
The plan still made me uneasy, but what other choice was there?
"Then you may go bring Magnus back."
I leaned in, kissing Jonathan on the cheek. "Bring him home safe."
He nodded to me smiling before leaving to gather some guards to go with him. I stood in the hallway, silently clenching and unclenching my fists nervously.
Jonathan will bring Magnus back and I will bring Catarina and Ragnor. They will help Magnus figure all of this out and everything will be fine… right?
Sighing, I ran my hands messily through my hair before running down the hall, going to meet up with Clary and Jace in town.
Sorry this took so long, but this chapter gave me writers block like you wouldn't believe. I took a step back and created a chapter outline though, and sure enough I had it all planned out in minutes after two weeks of being completely stuck.
Anyway, I have a few things of good news. One of them being that I finally got myself a job. I have been trying for the last five years since Graduating High School and i have finally done it. It's hard but i'm excited.
Another thing I wanted to bring up is my story Born to Endless Love. I don't know how many people were keeping up with it, but it has been on hiatus for almost a year. I never intended for it to be gone for that long. That's okay though because i'm bring it back. It will once again get regular updates and it's newest chapter will be out tomorrow. Thank you to anyone who stuck around with that one. I know it's not one of my most popular works, but it is special to me and I missed it.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I look forward to hearing what you think! Love each and every one of you 3
