Alec was sure he was going to die. The nation Valentine had aligned himself with had a human army, lead by a dozen trained soldiers with the Angel's blood. Sure, the humans wouldn't last a second against demons, but they could massacre Alec's people by the thousands on their way to the Palace then walk through the shield like it wasn't there. They could overwhelm Alec's few skilled fighters with sheer numbers.

Either way, they were doomed. His options were to either surrender and save everyone else or try and face this head on and attack the enemy at his boundaries. But Alec's 'army' was mostly made up of people who had only been holding a sword for a matter of months. Even if they had the blood they didn't yet have the training or the experience. They had never seen been in a life or death fight. So really Alec had no options at all.

Despite what he'd told Magnus in his message, Alec wanted to run. He wanted to open a portal and be in his lover's arms. Then Alec would ask Magnus to portal their family far away and never look back. Alec wouldn't have been human if the thought hadn't crossed his mind. Though, really, what Alec wanted most was to see Magnus one more time before he died.

What Alec was actually doing was dictating orders. The first thing he'd done was insist that Josey, Elizabeth and baby Sydney escape. They would suffer the most under Valentine's rule and Alec wanted them far away. He thought Elizabeth would have argued, but for the infant in her arms. Alec watched them flee through the portal, wishing he was going with them. In a way, it felt like they were his legacy. One happy mixed family living in the world meant hope for the future.

Alec knew his nephew and Adele would be safe. Though Alec sensed Valentine wasn't bluffing in regards to his threats against the people who'd joined his cause, Alec knew Valentine wouldn't harm the others. His family was safe, because his family was also Valentine's family.

"I am going to give you a chance to leave with the others," Alec offered to the three people standing before him. "You shouldn't have to go up against family."

"Does this mean we are going to fight?" Jonathan asked.

"No," Alec explained. "This means I don't want to put you in this position. If you want to join him no one will hold it against you."

"I always knew my husband had ambition, but I never thought he'd betrayed us to get it," Jocelyn spoke, with a fierce will. "I will not betray my country for the sake of my husband. He has chosen his path and I have chosen mine."

"I agree," Clary declared. "He turned his back on us."

"I won't leave Rose," Jonathan explained simply.

"Your father won't accept the two of you," Alec reminded him. "You will lose her either way."

"Don't surrender then," Jonathan argued, his bright eyes hopeful. "We should fight."

"A few dozen against hundreds?" Alec sighed. "You mean we should show up to our own slaughter."

"We've faced worse odds before," Clary agreed with her brother.

"Well, yes but against demons who couldn't enter our shield," Alec counted. "This is very different. This is a civil war, not light versus dark."

"Jace and I want Adele to grow up in your new world Alec," Clary pleaded with him.

"That new world is shattered," Alec cried, his voice rising as he tried to get the point through their thick hopefully skulls. "There is only two ways this can end. Either we all die or I die. That's it! No other options. Understand?" Alec paused to take a deep breath before continuing. "I am going to give myself up to them, just as soon as I know everyone who would suffer under Valentine's rule is safe and far away from here. Thank you for your loyalty. The best way to honour what we tried to do here is to remember." And with that he walked away, firmly, trying to hold back tears as he went.

Alec had other people to talk to, a Palace to empty. As the first recruit he'd found he owed Lillian a one-on-one visit to explain everything. Kathryn, Victor and Natasha were senior members and leaders among the other recruits along with her. He offered them their choice of weapon as a gift and told them to run. They did, however reluctantly. Alec didn't know what he'd done to inspire such strong allegiances, but he was touched all the same. All he could hope for was that they would remember what he'd tried to do so that someone else could finish his work.

Every mundane in the Palace was next. Alec offered to let them leave and go back to their place among the people or he they could travel with the recruits, maybe find a place to all live together. Many returned to their old lives, but more than Alec had expected chose the harder path.

As Alec watched all the humans leave, he noticed one strawberry blonde girl who was refusing to follow, clinging to Jonathan's arm. She was shaking her head furiously while Jonathan tired to push her off him towards the open portal. The sight cut at Alec's heart. He'd created an environment that had built so many relationships that Valentine was so determined to see torn apart. Alec could hear Jonathan plead with her, saying he wanted her to live, but she wouldn't release her grip on his arm.

"Go with her," Alec said suddenly. Everyone in the room froze. "Go with her, Jonathan, and protect them." After a moment's hesitation in which Jonathan looked to his mother and sister, he walked forward and disappeared through the purple shimmering portal with everyone else.

Again, Alec felt like he was back at the beginning. The only people left in the Palace now were the same ones from before his father's death, before he'd fallen in love, before he had tried to change the world. The only exceptions to this were the two children, Adele and Robert, and Amatis who had left with the recruits as well. Having been their teacher since day one Alec hadn't been too surprised when she'd requested the task of going with them and helping them find a new place to live. He suspected Victor had caught her eye, but he had no way to confirm it. Either way, Alec felt better knowing he'd sent those he couldn't protect away with two experienced fighters.

Alec knew it was time. There was nothing left for him to do. Everyone that needed to leave had left whether willingly or under orders it didn't matter. They were safe. Alec could hear Jocelyn and Clary crying. He knew Jace would take care of Clary. He had also noticed Lucian comforting Jocelyn. He had just witnessed his sister leave them as Jocelyn had lost her son. Alec was reassured by the connection. They would be alright. He could hear his sister crying, but he knew Simon would be there for her. Izzy also had a beautiful baby boy to care for.

Then Alec's eyes fell on his mother. She stood alone among their family, tears pouring down her face her arms reaching out as if to hold him. Alec moved toward her, hugging her briefly. Then he turned to face the portal. He had no thoughts to comfort him about how his mother would cope with his death, just as he had no thoughts to comfort him about how Magnus was right now. All he could hope was that Maryse found joy in her daughter and grandson. That Magnus could hold Max in his arms and heal.

As Alec set the location on the portal controls he thought about how amazing this permanent magic was. Because of this portal Alec had been able to visit the love of his life whenever he wanted. He'd been able to survive an ambush with an arrow sent back through it to call for help. This portal had done so many wondrous things for him, but now it was meant for something else. Alec knew exactly what was waiting for him on the other side of this shimmering purple portal; humiliation and execution.

"Just run, Alec," Maryse whispered behind him. "Please, we will pretend the portal sent you to the wrong place by mistake. We will explain it to Valentine. Please just go to Magnus. Don't die." Her voice broke on the last word. Alec wanted to do as she asked with every fibre of his being. By just adjusting the controls he knew he could make this portal take him to Magnus instead of Valentine's war camp. Ignoring his mother's pleas, Alec moved forward.

He was right at the portals edge, seconds from crossing it when a huge concussive force shook the Palace. Alec had never felt anything like it. Thinking it to be Valentine Alec moved quickly through the portal, only to be standing a few feet from where he'd been. The portal had vanished, but it wasn't just inactive. The natural glow the portal always had was gone. It was as if the portal had died. Looking around Alec realized it wasn't just the portal. The whole Palace felt cold, as if it's internal light had gone out. Alec could hear frightened voices all around him, his family were scared and confused. Alec barely had time to be just as confused and scared as they were before he heard a great booming voice echoed off the walls.

"You idiot creatures," the voice filled the room. "Have you truly forgotten so much about the world as this!" There was another boom and a flash of light before the voice continued. "Must I remind you again!"

"Who is there?" Alec asked the empty space before him, still unsure where the booming voice came from.

"Warlock on High," the voice rang out, continuing to echo off the walls as if it came from all directions. Alec still couldn't see the speaker.

"But how could a warlock be in the Palace," Jocelyn exclaimed, with a gasp. "The shield."

Deep dismissive laughter echoed off the walls. "Even a child can undo that which they themselves created. You've proven unworthy of such gifts. The magical objects I created millennia ago have been dispelled."

And then the warlock in question appeared high in the air. As he floated down effortlessly to stand on the ground before them, Alec could see him more clearly. He was tall, with bright green skin, a long tan waist coat. He had an ancient anger in his eyes.

"Children of my children's children's friends," his voice boomed through softer than before. "You have quite messed everything up as children always do." He sighed as he being asking to tackle a tedious job.

"You created the shield?" Jocelyn asked awestruck. His being able to destroy it seemed to have been proof enough. Alec could see understanding written on her face.

"The protective spells, the shield, the portal, and the magical lighting. Simple spells, really, I created as a favour to a dear friend," the warlock explained. "And today I take them down for the same reason."

Hope flared in Alec's heard, as he moved trustingly toward the warlock. "Do you know Magnus Bane?" he asked.

The green skinned warlock smiled kindly at him. "You must be Alexander."

"Yes," Alec agreed.

"You have done quite a number on my friend, young man," the warlock scolded him. "Such a message to send." He shook his head and pointed his finger at Alec as if his goodbye messages had just been the dramatic antics of a child. "The poor man was sobbing on the floor when I showed up. In the four centuries since I met Magnus I've never seen him so emotional. You really must stop jerking the sorry sod around."

"Umm," Alec said unsure how to reply to that. Alec wanted to be with Magnus, and had always been honest about it.

"Ah, yes, right," the warlock snapped back to attention as if he'd just remembered why he was here. "We have a slight problem to deal with first, if I recall." He clapped his hands together with a grin on his face.

"Slight," Alec mouthed, both amused and dismayed by this warlock's summary of his problems.

The warlock waved his hand. In a shower of green sparks a shimmering purple portal suddenly stood beside him. The edges made it obvious that the portal was of the temporary kind, but other than that it was identity to the one Alec had grown up with all his life. Something clicked in Alec's head. Magnus's magic was blue, but his portals and shields were orange. This warlock's magic was green and his portals and shields were purple. There was a pattern to it. Alec could recall once Clary trying to explain to him how a colour wheel worked. How if you mixed colours opposite on the wheel they made brown, but if you place opposite colours next to each other, rather than mixing them, they made each other brighter.

"Age before beauty," the warlock said before stepping through the portal and vanishing. Alec didn't know this man's name, but he knew with complete certainty that this warlock was more powerful than any other warlock he'd ever met. This man knew Magnus and that was good enough for Alec. He had faith. Alec walked forward following the warlock into the unknown.

To Alec's great surprise he appeared right where he'd originally meant to, at the border of Alicante within sight of the army's about to overthrow him. The only difference was the green skinned warlock beside him.

"This I believe is what troubles you?" the warlock remarked casually gestured to the assembled troops. Alec nodded, resisting the urge to comment on how the warlock's tone made an invading army sound like a mere nuisance.

"One moment," the warlock said and made to move away.

"Wait," Alec called and the warlock stopped, hovering feet from the ground, he turned to Alec. "What's your name?"

"Oh, how rude of me," the warlock laughed. "Ragnor Fell." He did a little bow, the added. "At your service. For the moment, anyway."

Alec couldn't help but laugh at Ragnor's humour as he watched Ragnor fly effortlessly into the sky as if he had a pair of great invisible wings. There was an elegance to the way the old warlock moved, a grace in his flight. Alec had seen Magnus fly once, but not near so elegantly.

Once he was hovering high above and infront of Valentine's army, Ragnor hovered. He held out his hand, palm out stretched and called for them to stop. To Alec's great surprised the entire army froze in its tracks.

"You foolish ones, marching off to die and kill," Ragnor spoke as if teaching a lesson.. "You who live for just a blink of an eye yet insist on shorting it. You will stand and listen to me now." Every syllable could be heard with crystal clear clarity and Alec felt sure Ragnor was magically amplifying it

"This has nothing to do with you, warlock!" He recognized the cry from the crowd as Valentine, speaking at his full volume, though barely audible to Alec.

Ragnor just laughed lightly as if his student had asked a very silly question. "When you give someone something and their great great grandchild misuse it," Ragnor commented thoughtfully. "Which leads to your friend being a crying mess on the floor, I'd say it has at least something to do with me." He shrugged. "And even if it doesn't… too bad. I am butting in because… well, I just don't like you."

"The feeling is mutual," called someone from the crowd though this time Alec couldn't tell if it was Valentine.

"Always lovely when relationships go two ways," Ragnor mused. "Now where was I… oh yes. It's time for a life lesson I think." He cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders as he lowered himself to stand on the ground before the troops.

"Your knowledge is lost to time because you are lost to time. You can't remember what came before you. You aging ones would rather just accept that this is how the world is and do nothing to change it. You don't ask questions," Ragnor lectured the army. "You lash out with fear and destroy what is already so fragile."

"Let us go!" Another cry from the crowd. Alec looked more closely and saw that they were literally frozen how they'd been before Ragnor had done whatever he'd done. He could see some of them with arms held up and others standing on one leg. The army could breath and speak, but that was it.

"The less you interrupt, the faster you will get released," Ragnor lectured his misbehaving students. "Now, where was I? Some days I swear my mind plays tricks on me. Too many memories to sort through.. Oh yes." He resumed his teaching voice before continuing. "You do all this out of fear. The fear of losing your way of life. But your way of life is a lie. You accept that you have a portal and defensives put in place by magic, but shun warlocks. You have not once thought who created those magical tools for you or why. It's one thing to believe the warlock long dead and it's another to be standing in his presence. Your way of life was lost when Jonathan Shadowhunter spoke to Raziel. Your lives have been nothing but lies every since."

"Don't twist the truth!" This time Alec knew it was Valentine who'd shouted out. "I know the history of my own people!"

"Ha!" Ragnor laughed. "I lived history. You remember nothing. The world as you know it now is new. It began four hundred years ago when Raziel tricked Jonathan Shadowhunter. Before that, the world was as Alexander dreamed it. If you wish to preserve your way of life you should be helping him."

"Release my men," Valentine commanded.

"You are a horrible student," Ragnor whined. Then he was all business again. In a flurry of green magic a great imagine appeared behind Ragnor. It showed the Palace cold and dark, naked and unprotected. Alec couldn't believe the power of this man, nor could he do anything but stand in awe of the crystal clear imaging of the dark Palace before him.

"I have taken back my gifts," Ragnor informed Valentine. "Your Palace is not as it was. The magic is gone. Your way of life is over-" His voice shifted to a roar as he added, "Because I deem it to be over." Ragnor raised his hands in the air, then lowered them in one quick move and a wave of green swooshed out from him, covering the entire army.

"Idiot," Ragnor complained, dusting green power off his hands. Alec couldn't remember Magnus saying that age or training made warlock's more powerful. Magnus hadn't been able to take down the shield before the warlock who'd made it was older than him. Ragnor had said millennia ago, but that word meant so many years Alec couldn't comprehend them. Alec could barely understand Magnus being four hundred. Unlike Valentine, Alec had listened to everything Ragnor had said and his head was spinning.

When the smoke cleared every last one of them was gone. Alec's crisis over.

"Where did they go?" Alec asked.

"Sent them home," Ragnor explained with a shrug. "Fools weren't going to listen anyway." Then Alec heard an angry sound from where they army had been and turned to look. "Oh except that one," Ragnor added. "I have a feeling he is your problem." With a casual wave of his hand, Ragnor lifted Valentine into the air and pulled him over to them. There were ropes around his hands and feet, and a gag in Valentine's mouth.

"Anywho shall we go?" Ragnor asked Alec cheerfully, clapping his hands together with a smile like he'd just finished work for the day. "I'm quite ready for something to eat myself. How about you?"

"You just saved my life," Alec said slightly stunned. "Saved my people, my legacy, the world I was trying to create and more." He paused, relieved to the point of being overwhelmed and in amazement had how okay Ragnor was. The warlock didn't look drained in the slightest. "My friend, you can eat anything you like. Hell, I'll even make it for you. What would you like?" Ragnor laughed, a loud joyful sound that made Alec feel safe like a child would under the protection of a parent. Walking closer to Alec, Ragnor put an arm around the younger man's shoulders.

"You aren't so bad, you know," Ragnor exclaimed, clapping Alec on the back. "I think I almost see why Magnus is so fond of you."

"Er... thanks?" Alec replied. Ragnor was walking now, and with his arm around Alec's shoulder the king was encouraged to follow. Alec wasn't sure where they were walking, but he wasn't about to suggest they portal home in case Ragnor was too drained to make one.

Valentine bound and gagged hovered behind them, as if pulled by a string. "You actually remind me of the friend I put up the shield for," Ragnor said as they walked. "He was a visionary as well. He saw a place where humans and shadowhunters could live in peace without the constant fear of demon attacks."

"But you said he lived a millennia ago?" Alec asked.

"He did," Ragnor smiled. "It's funny how memory works. I can recall how much I cared for him, the emotional core out of friendship and what I did for him, but his name and face have faded from my mind." He paused as if lost in his past. "There was a time when a demon's curse was actually a demon's gift. A time when warlocks were valued above all others and families went to great lengths to please demons so their children would be given immortality and magic. I know my family did so for me." He paused again, but Alec was too eager to hear more to interrupt. "For centuries now it's been used as a punishment. It breaks my heart. Why should immortality and magic be unwanted? Is green skin so much a price to pay for such gifts? The demons, of course, figured out the change in attitude and adapted quickly. Instead of manipulating people into giving them what they wanted in exchange for gifting a child with magic, they started using it to curse children to punish and manipulate their parents." The ancient warlock sighed. "But I remember this world when warlocks, nephill, fairies and humans all lived in harmony together."

"It sounds like a wonderful place," Alec replied gently. "This world."

"And with your help we can make it so again," Ragnor exclaimed, stopping in his tracks to turn and face Alec.

"I would like that very much," Alec beamed back at him.

"Wait, Alexander," Ragnor said, a sudden look of confusion on his face. "Why are we walking back to Alicante?"

"I thought maybe you were low on magic?" Alec observed. Muttering under his breath something about losing his own nose if it wasn't attached to his face, Ragnor waved his hand and created a shimmering purple portal just feet from them. Alec still wasn't used to seeing portals that weren't orange. Together they went through the shimmer purple gateway and back home.

*Is way to excited for reviews for this chapter!*

I have been planning this big Ragnor reveal since chapter like 2. ^_^ What do you think? How awesome was that? Did I surprise you?

Also coming to the end of this story soon. Just a few chapters left guys.

Sneak Peek Chapter 18

Magnus just couldn't stay here. Not only was it more dangerous than ever to be a warlock once Valentine was king, but every part of his house reminded Magnus of Alexander. He would not be returning here. With a little encouragement Max came inside with Magnus to pack. One of the benefits of magic is that you can relocate every quickly.

Ignoring Tessa and Caterina's concern Magnus packed up his whole house. Standing with his son at his side Magnus's magic flowed freely transforming the space around him. Items of importance were packing themselves into boxes, while everything else disintegrated. Magnus destroyed his house from the inside as the roof over his head and the walls at his side turned to dust, and drifted away on the breeze.

"Where will you go?" Tessa asked, tearfully.

"Away from here," Magnus replied simply. He held Max's hand in one of his, the few boxes he was taking were behind him. They stood now in an open field that had been his home.