WHAT UP!

What up ya'll! Here's the next chapter in the story and we see how vulnerable Austin can be, especially with Ally.

Keep up all those reviews, favorites and follows, it really helps me to continue.

Totally random, but they finally restocked on the Smile sweatshirts and I had to get one before they ran out because I really wanted one and I didn't want to wait another couple of months for them to restock.

Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Austin and Ally

Chapter 10

Healing Old Wounds

Austin's POV:

How could I be such an idiot?!

I should have never left her alone, not for one second, when I knew how unstable Brooke is. I should have seen it coming, yet I didn't stop it. I only made it worse with having Brooke so close to Ally and now it all blew up in my face.

After Dez had told me about the other clans showing up, demanding an audience with me, I reluctantly left to meet with them. However, as I was walking down the hallway, I could feel it; that sudden unease of magic fueled by hatred radiate through the air. That should have been my first clue, but I shook it off to be the people waiting for me. When I finally reached the Great Hall, I was met with the heads of three of the Warlock Clans; Jimmy Starr, Damien La Fontaine, and Hiro Bane. Each was looking at me with a look of distain on their faces.

I knew I was in for it.

"Gentlemen, to what do I owe the honor of your impromptu visits? You should know I'am a very busy man especially with a wedding to plan." I tried to sound calm and lighthearted, but it was hard to hide my displeasure at being interrupted with my fiancé. Jimmy stepped forward out of the three men.

"We understand that your majesty is busy, but it is this wedding that we wish to speak to you about." Jimmy said a stern look on his face. I could see the other men behind him shake their heads as well.

I heaved a sigh as I let them continue.

"We, the other clans and I, believe that while what you are doing is a grand idea, it is also a very stupid idea. You know that humans fear us and just announcing an engagement like that, without even consulting the others heads, will surely cause a stir within the other families."

"Especially mine," Damien had spoken over Jimmy to get my attention. I knew that I would pay for what I did Brooke and now I had to face her father. "Your family and mine made an oath that our families would be bonded through marriage and yet, you toss my daughter aside for this human you barely know. Forgive me for saying this, but what you have done is considered outright mutiny against magical kind." He spat out. I could feel the hatred radiating from him.

The La Fontaine clan was notorious for spreading their hatred of humans and anything they considered below them. Their family also had a long history of inbreeding between them, which I think that led to Brooke to being the crazy bitch she is.

"And you, Hiro," I said turning towards the last member of the three men, "What is your perspective on this?" He seemed to contemplate his decision before finally answering.

"In all honesty, your grace, I agree with Jimmy and Damien. By marrying a human you could possibly be opening a rift for the other magical races ton openly defy your rule." I could feel the smug faces of Damien and Jimmy pointed at me, "However," I heard him say, "It is your decision on who your queen will be, so House Bane will stand by you and your bride." He finished, bowing to me. House Bane has always stood by my family and I knew that I could count on them to support my decision.

"Well, it is good to know at least one of the houses supports me, but what of House Morgenstern, have they no say?" I asked.

"Lord Michael is unfortunately out of town at the moment. However, last I spoke to him; he said that regardless of who or what she is, House Morgenstern would support their king." Hiro said. Well, two out of four wasn't bad and it wasn't like their opinion mattered to me anyway. I was the king and as king, I could do as I pleased.

"Well, if that is all you wanted to tell me, I will just-"

"AUSTIN!" I stopped mid-sentence when I saw Dez burst through the large double doors into the room. He seemed to be out of breath as he stood there.

"What is it Dez and why are you so out of breath?"

"Ally…she's been…attacked." He said trying to catch his breath. I felt my heart stop immediately. I ran to Dez and gripped him by the arms.

"What do you mean she's been attacked?! Is she okay?! Is she unharmed?!"

"She's…alive, but in very critical condition. She used a great deal of magic to defend herself and caused her body to shut down. I already called Avion and he's tending to her right now."

I didn't need to hear anything else before I bolted out the door and towards our bedroom. When I got there I found Avion standing over Ally, examining her as she lay in the bed. I ran to her side and was frightened by what I saw.

She was so pale, cold and clammy that it felt like she was dead and for a second I thought she was, until Avion reassured me that with rest and the necessary amount of healing potions, she would be as good as new. I felt relieved, but felt relief become replaced with another feeling; rage. I looked back at Avion,

"Avion, do you know who attacked her?" I asked as calm as I could.

"When Dez found Ally in the bathroom, he also found another person with her. We believe it to be her attacker." He said, shuffling in his bag of potions. I stood in front of him, anger etched onto my face.

"Well, who was it? Who is the bastard that decided to attack my fiancé?! Whoever it is shall pay dearly for it." Avion looked at me,

"That person was Brooke, Lord La Fontaine's daughter."

That was when I knew just how stupid I had been with my decision. I should have known with our previous history that Brooke might have tried to hurt Ally, but I didn't know that she would.

It's been about a week since the attack and Ally still hasn't woken up. Avion told me that it could take a week or two for Ally to fully recover, but that didn't keep me from worrying. I haven't left her side either and I held her tiny hand in mine as I just stared at her. I hadn't eaten, slept or tended to my royal duties since then and that began to worry those around me. Numerous maids and butlers, including Jacek, had come and told me to get some sleep, but I refused to move one inch from her side. Thankfully, you could see changes appear that showed she was recovering.

Her skin color had gone from the sickly pale color to it usual slight tan, slightly pale color and her temperature had increased as well. It hurt to see her so vulnerable, so frail and to know that I was the reason behind it. She was laying in this bed, unconscious, because of me and I could feel my heart slowly break into a thousand pieces. I just hope she woke up soon, so we can ask about what happened when she was attacked by Brooke.

Speaking of Brooke, she had been dealt with and her punishment was being served as we speak. I didn't condemn her to death, even though that is usually the punishment served for those who attacked the nobility, but she and her family were not to attend anything else that Ally would be present at, which meant everything. Damien had protested that I was being biased and only thinking on my rage and hate, but I was thinking clearly and I served the justice needed. Brooke tried pleading with me, begged me and told me that she would not try it again, but I would not bend on my decision.

They would not be banished forever, only until Ally had mastered her magic and we had married. It would be considered extra precaution, but anything to keep her protected from that maniac.

I also made sure that La Fontaine wouldn't be able to use another kind of assassin to get to Ally by cutting off any connections he might have. Turns out it was La Fontaine who organized this whole thing by having three of the heads come and talk to me, while Brooke snuck in and try to kill Ally.

All I can think is how I should have known better, that I should have seen that Brooke and her family would pull something like this. But, I was too distracted with bringing Ally here and having her beside me, that I couldn't see what was right in front of me. Well, not anymore. From now on, I would be mindful of the people I have around me and protecting what matters the most to me.

I must have been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't feel the movement or groaning from the bed until the hand I was grasping tried to escape. I opened my eyes to be met with Ally's doe-like orbs staring at me.

"Austin, where am I and why are you holding my hand?" I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I reach down to cup her cheek.

"You were attacked Ally by Brooke. You used an immense amount of magic to throw her off and it caused you to completely collapse." I saw her eyes widen when I told her what had happened. She tried to sit up, but only got winded as she winced in pain. I lowered her back to the bed.

"Easy there, you maybe awake, but your body is still trying to recover. It's very tiresome when you're recovering from using so much magic." She let out an exasperated breath as she stared at me.

"Austin, there's actually something I need to ask you." I was a little taken aback by what she said.

"Alright, what is it?" She managed to get up and place herself against the headboard for leverage. She turned her head and looked me straight in the face.

"If we're going to be 'friends', I want complete and total honesty when you answer this," I felt kind of nervous. What could she want to ask me? "Brooke told me that you have been watching me since the day I was born, is that true?"

UH OH, I should have known that was coming. Only Brooke would throw that in to ruin what little progress I had already made with Ally. But, somewhere deep inside I knew that it would come to haunt me one day, I had only hoped it would have been after she had fallen in love with me and married me. I took in a deep breath, exhaled and then decided,

"Yes, everything she told you from giving your father to watching you most of your life is true." I could see her face go from shock to confusion to anger all in one swift movement. There was a pause and silence filled the space between us.

"Why?" She finally said.

"Why, what?"

"Why did you watch me like some kind of creepy stalker?! Do you know how utterly perverted that sounds to send your familiar to watch me grow up until I was 'ripe' or something like that?!" She screamed. I began to get a little worried because when a training warlock or witch gets angry they can do some serious damage to their surroundings. "Well, do you have to say for yourself, young man?!" Now I felt like I was being scolded by mother, great! I grasped Ally by the shoulders,

"Okay first, you need to calm down. You're still a novice and if you're not careful, right now, you could very well destroy everything in this room." That seemed to calm her down as the various objects that had begun to float descended to their proper places. "Second, if it will help to mend things between us, I will tell you everything that led up to this moment."

She raised an eyebrow at me, not really convinced of my sincerity. She folded her arms in front of her and stared at me,

"How do I know you won't lie?" She had a point there, but there is one way to convince.

"On my honor as the Witch-King, I pledge here and now to tell nothing but the truth. Should I fail in doing so may I never have use of my magic again for the rest of my life." That worked pretty well as that is the most serious vow a warlock or witch can make. To stake our magic was to basically stake our lives.

Ally slumped back into the bed and became prepared to listen to what I have to say about my decision to do what I did. Hopefully, she won't lose what little trust she has with me.

Well, another chapter done and another to start soon. I'm not really proud of this chapter, but I will stand by it. Next, we will go way back and see where Austin's decision came from and how it grew over time. So, to get it, remember to review, favorite and follow.

Thanks and goodbye!