Chapter 11: Second Thoughts
After the fight with his father, Alec didn't feel in the mood for a wedding, especially not his own, but then a nasty little thought slivered through his mind, that would be letting him win and that's cowardice! Now if there was one thing Alec did not like being called it would be a coward, there has been many a time when he had gotten hurt or almost killed trying to prove to Jace he was just as brave as him. This was something Magnus would call stubborn pride, yes Alec had pride but so did most people, its called being human although he is half human- half angel that didn't stop the annoying mundane habits such as pride and dignity.
Alec's thoughts were interrupted when his wrist watch started beeping at him, as his mother would when he was a child, "Clean your room Alexander! Or you will go without pudding!" This was her favourite bribe as no one could resist her rich, sticky toffee pudding. Alec pushed the side button on his watch with a grunt; the alarm told Alec it was time to remind Magnus that their wedding is soon. So he crept up to Magnus's door and lightly knocked on it with just the knuckles of three fingers, he did this twice and quickly retreated because he believed it would be wrong for them to see each other before the ceremony, he thought why should the straight couples get all the beliefs and we're stuck with just a joining. Fuck them if I want to get married and believe what I want, so be it! And with that he slowly pushed his own door shut behind him and checked his hair in the mirror. Everything had to be perfect today, well as perfect as it could get considering.
(...)
The room where the ceremony is going to take place was the grand ballroom, but it looked different all decorated with an arch at the end of the room, this is where Magnus and Alec are going to say their vows and then here was pretty white roses hanging on silver threads, dangling from the ceiling but not too low so you couldn't see but just right so when you walked through them they just brushed the tops of your head and left a few petals in your hair. The room looked like a dream with the flowers and the white chairs placed in rows near the arch for the guests and the pots of flowers at the end of each row, pale pink and blue flowers that just gave the room a happy atmosphere. The arch was decorated in flowers too and vines, the arch itself was made of cream painted metal and twisted around the metal was bright green vines and beautiful lilac lilies.
Magnus was the first one to arrive at the arch, along with the register that is going to marry him and Alec, and the guests, but Alec was nowhere to be found, perhaps he is having second thoughts because of what his dad said. If this was true Magnus would personally kill Robert, not get Camille to do it, the spineless bastard.
(...)
Alec was in his room, sat at the mirror, he had not had second thoughts, he just wanted to look the absolute best he could for his big day because he knew that no matter what, Magnus would still look like a model and although Magnus kept telling Alec "It doesn't matter what's on the outside its what's in the inside that counts. As the saying goes beauty is only skin deep and in the eye of the beholder." He said this every time he saw Alec fussing over his appearance but it didn't stop Alec from doing it.
The time Alec thought he was ready to go he looked at his reflection one last time and realised something was missing, something gold. He looked high and low for something gold to go with his suit but nothing matched. He was just about to give in when there was a knock on the door and before Alec realised what he was doing, he had a vase in his hands ready to strike the person outside with if they meant trouble. The door slowly opened with a creak but nobody stepped inside.
(...)
Magnus was starting to think that Alec had played a trick on everyone and decided to be the runaway groom and leave, never to been seen again. But he wouldn't do that would he? He seemed happy and relaxed ever since he moved in and hadn't said anything about leaving. But why would he? If he wanted to do this why put everyone through this hassle? Unless he was in trouble again, no he couldn't be Robert's knocked out cold in Maryse's room!
Magnus looked around the room to see if everyone was here and noticed there were only two people missing. One of them was Robert which was to be expected but the other one was not. They promised they would be here and have never broken a promise before and Magnus had seen them come in so they definitely weren't late. Where they were Magnus had no idea but one thing was for certain, if Alec didn't show up more guests were going to be disappearing out of boredom.
(...)
Alec was just about to swing the lightweight vase over his head to strike the intruder down when he realised there was no one inside his room but outside, with their hands palms up at their sides showing that they meant no harm. He slowly lowered the vase until it fell to the floor, forgotten because standing there was a tall girl, she looked around about 16, and she had smooth brown hair and steely gray eyes which looked like they could hold some blue as well. Magnus had described her to him before as pretty, not traditionally beautiful but kindly attractive, with a serious face. Alec had never met her before until now.
She smiled sweetly at him and said "Good Morning, Alec. How nice to meet you at last, I'm Tessa. One of Magnus's friends. Can I come in please?"
"Yes of course, but I can't stay, I have to find something gold and leave for the wedding. I can't leave Magnus waiting for too long, he'll start to worry." Alec gushed.
"Oh my dear boy, that's why I'm here. I have something gold for you to use. I have heard so much about you and I wanted to have a part in your wedding, so I went out and brought you this, consider it a wedding gift." And with that she pulled out a small box, carefully tied up in a pale blue ribbon which contrasted with the black box. Cautiously Alec opened the box to reveal two small gold cuff-links surrounded by red silk, he held up one cuff link to find that they were in the shape of an angel and they looked as if they were made out of clock work pieces. The way the light hit them it made the angels look as if they were smiling and Alec could swear the one he was holding, winked at him.
Alec mumbled his gratitude as he fumbled with the clasp of the cuff links, trying to put them on but he just couldn't get the clasp to close. While he was doing this Tessa sat in the arm chair, watching Alec embarrass himself and she was trying to stifle a laugh. After a short while she burst out laughing, tired of holding it in. This made Alec turn towards her and give her a rather unpleasant look. Tessa rose from her seat and started towards Alec; she then helped Alec put the cuff links on.
(...)
Magnus was starting to get annoyed and was planning to call the whole thing off, when the door to the grand ballroom swung open and crashed against the wall with an almighty Bang! It was Tessa entering the room at quite some speed and taking her seat in the front row, along with; Maryse, Jace, Isabelle, Simon and Clary, oh and of course Chairman Meow, nobody could forget him because he is Magnus's prized and valuable pet. To be honest Magnus was thinking about getting Alec a kitten to keep Chairman Meow company and as a wedding gift but he thought Alec might not like it quite so much. Tessa was quickly followed by Alec, who looked out of breath as if he had been running or had been rushing to get to the wedding on time, which he had managed to fail miserably. But Magnus could not help but breath a sigh of relief because Alec had not stood him up at the alter but why would he? Magnus could not take his eyes off of Alec as he strode down the isle on the smooth red carpet, as if he was a movie star, Magnus could not believe he had never seen Alec in a suit before, well if you don't count his birthday suit as one, and he had to admit Alec looked rather fetching in it.
As Alec got closer, Magnus saw the shine of gold on his cuffs and had to squint to get a better look. What he saw was two identical angel cuff links made of clockwork pieces. Instantly Magnus knew where he got them, Tessa. The cuff links were identical to her necklace, the one that Mortmain had made for her and had trapped the angel Ithuriel inside to protect her from death. Magnus had no idea why she would give Alec the cuffs but he was secretly pleased she did because if the kidnappers ever come for Alec again, as long as he wore the cuffs, he could not be harmed.
Now Alec was standing next to Magnus and it was time to begin the ceremony. There was a lot of ruffling sounds as everyone leaned closer to get good photos and so that they could hear. And with them noises going on the register started the ceremony.
"Alexander and Magnus, we are gathered here today to witness the love and respect you have for each other.
Now I have to ask, are you both entering into this marriage freely, voluntary and without any conditions?" The register looked at both of them and they both nodded in unison. "Well then, happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. The little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say "I love you" at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through out the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting one person to wear a halo or the other to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.
It is finding room for the things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.
Marriage also bestows enormous private and social advantages on those who choose to marry. Civil marriage is at once a deeply personal commitment to another human being and highly public celebration of the ideals of mutuality, companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and family…..Because it fulfils yearnings for security, safe haven, and connection that express our common humanity, civil marriage is an esteemed institution, and the decision whether and whom to marry is among life's momentous acts of self-definition.
Alexander and Magnus please face each other and repeat after me. Alexander, I come here today to join your life for years, I pledge to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. We are many things to each other, May only those best qualities continue to shine And may our bond continue to grow stronger Time may pass, fortune may smile, trials may come; no matter what we may encounter together, I vow here today that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward"
Magnus looked Alec in the eyes as Alec said "I come here today to join your life for years, I pledge to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. We are many things to each other, May only those best qualities continue to shine and may our bond continue to grow stronger Time may pass, fortune may smile, trials may come; no matter what we may encounter together, I vow here today that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward." Alec's voice cracked when he had to say he would grow old with Magnus because everyone here knew that it was generally impossible.
The register continued in his deep, grating voice. "Magnus, I come here today to join your life for years, I pledge to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. We are many things to each other, May only those best qualities continue to shine and may our bond continue to grow stronger
Time may pass, fortune may smile, trials may come; no matter what we may encounter together, I vow here today that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward"
Now it was Magnus's turn and he could feel the butterflies in his stomach but they felt more like angry wasps trying to break free. "I come here today to join your life for years; I pledge to be true to you, to respect you, and to grow with you through the years. We are many things to each other, May only those best qualities continue to shine and may our bond continue to grow stronger
Time may pass, fortune may smile, trials may come; no matter what we may encounter together, I vow here today that this love will be my only love. I will make my home in your heart from this day forward"
Now a normal shadow hunters wedding would not involve rings, only runes but because Magnus is a downworlder he could not wear runes. So they had to use rings. The rings were pure gold and both of them were engraved with the word "forever" in spidery script.
The register asked for the rings and Magnus had to dig them out from his back pocket. Then the register said, "Alexander, what I have to give you is the promise to take you as my only love from this day forward, to stand by your side, to listen when you speak, to comfort you when you cry, and to join your laughter with my own.
Take this ring, and be part of my life forever"
Alec repeated what the register said word for word. "What I have to give you is the promise to take you as my only love from this day forward, to stand by your side, to listen when you speak, to comfort you when you cry, and to join your laughter with my own. Take this ring, and be part of my life forever" then he slipped the ring on Magnus's finger with shaky hands but eventually he managed to get it on. Magnus did the same thing but he was slightly better at putting the ring on Alec's finger.
"Your gift to each other for your wedding today has been your wedding rings. The wedding ring is a symbol of the vows taken here today….a circle of wholeness perfect in form. The unending circle of a ring is a sign of fidelity, the pledged faithfulness of a couple to each other. These rings mark the beginning of an unending journey together filled with wonder and surprises, laughter and tears, celebration and joy. May these rings glow in the warmth and happiness of you both today.
There may be times filled with happiness, sorrow, tears or laughter, whatever it may be, remember love has given you wings; your journey begins today; Alexander and Magnus, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, remember the love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make your marriage a glorious union, and it is by love that your marriage will endure." The register droned on. "Alexander and Magnus, as you have consented together in lawful wedlock and thereto have pledged your faith to each other, and have declared the same by joining hands and giving and receiving of rings and exchanged your first gifts as a married couple and by the powers invested in me as a Justice of the Peace for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you are now married!
If you wish to seal this marriage with a kiss, you may now do so."
As Alec and Magnus shared their first kiss as a married couple, everyone stood up and cheered and Jace came up to the arch and dumped a whole pot of confetti on the happy couple, just as Maryse was taking a picture.
(...)
The reception was in the library, with a buffet table where the large mahogany desk should have been. There was freshly cooked beef, chicken legs, rainbow coloured jelly (Magnus's personal favourite), a big bowl of wrapped candies and a huge range of vegetables and fruits. The smell of all the food was enticing and made everyone's mouths water.
After a couple of minutes of mingling the queue to congratulate the happy couple had died down and they were free to have some alone time. Alec dragged Magnus out of the library and into his deserted room, he slammed the door shut behind him and turned to face Magnus, who had a glint in his eyes and a crooked smile on his face, the one that told you he was thinking something dirty. But Alec had not dragged him out to do that! No he just wanted to talk.
"Magnus, I know we have only just got married but.." Magnus's smile disappeared, he thought Alec was going to ask for a divorce, already. "But I want to do everything a normal couple does and that includes having a child, now I know it's not humanly possible but I was thinking we could adopt." Alec gushed so he didn't lose his nerve half way through.
"Um, can we talk about this later? I need time to think. I mean we have a two week honeymoon. We will talk then. Right now I just want to focus on our big day."
"Sure."