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carelessflower · 1 year ago

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WOLF ALECCCCC SAVING MAGNUS YESSS AND THAT LAST SCENE SO DOMESTIC

Animalec Fest 2023

September 24: Sacrifice

@animalecfest

The world seemed to be spinning around Magnus, everything feeling fleeting and insubstantial. Somehow he’d made it inside the castle and was sitting in the Great Hall, surrounded by Alec’s family. The one word gone, gone, gone kept repeating over and over in his head like a death knell. He was aware of people speaking, but all the voices sounded fuzzy, as if heard from underwater.

Focus, he told himself angrily. You’re the king. You need to be doing something to help. Focus!

He blinked, and the room swam back into view. His gaze flicked over the stone walls hung with tapestries, then the anxious faces around him. Isabelle was there, her face pale and tearstained. Her husband Simon was sitting next to her, his arm around her shoulders. Alec’s adoptive brother Jace was pacing the room, looking tense and strained.

A door at the far end of the room opened, and Magnus’s stomach tightened with tension as Lydia entered. She was wearing a plain white gown, the blonde braids of her hair wound about her head like a crown. She saw Magnus and instantly made a beeline for him.

“Your majesty.” she said. She glanced around at the rest of the room, then back at Magnus. “I would— like to speak with you in private, if you would permit.”

Magnus nodded, and the room emptied. Jace hesitated for a moment, but Isabelle touched his arm and he left with her and Simon. As soon as they were alone, Lydia slumped onto the couch opposite Magnus and put her head in her hands.

“My lady,” Magus said, rising in alarm. “Are you alright?”

“Please,” she said in a muffled voice, “no formalities, Magnus.” When she looked up at him, her eyes were rimmed with red. “I want us to talk openly about this.”

“As you wish.” Magnus said, confused. He sat down again and waited.

Lydia seemed to be hesitating, choosing her words carefully. “I know,” she said eventually, “that you have….feelings for my husband.”

Magnus wasn’t entirely surprised. It wasn’t like he’d tried to be subtle, after all. “I’m sorry if I upset you.” he said softly. “Alec and I…. we never….” He waved his hand around awkwardly. “Nothing ever happened.”

“It’s not that.” Lydia said. “I wasn’t jealous. Just… sad, I suppose.” She looked at Magnus steadily. “We got married for political reasons, as you know. Most people of our class do. I was fine with it. But Alec…” She sighed and stared out of the window for a moment.

“Alec wasn’t fine with it?” Magnus said gently.

Lydia shrugged. “He’s been in love with you for years.” she said simply. “I’ve known it since our wedding day. When you were performing the ceremony, the way Alec looked at you… He was wishing you were the one he was marrying instead.”

Magnus felt his cheeks heat up. Hearing his own suspicions confirmed like this caused a mixture of joy and despair in his chest. Alec loved him. But what was the use of that when he had disappeared without trace?

“When we last spoke,” he said hesitantly, “Alec was— distressed. If I said anything that might have caused him to run away, I am so sorry.”

Lydia hesitated for a moment. “Alec and I might not have a— traditional marriage.” she said carefully. “But he is my closest friend, and I—” She scrubbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her white gown. “I am very afraid for him.” she said softly. “I don’t know where he is, or what’s happened. But I don’t think it was your doing, Magnus. There’s something else.” She seemed to be steeling herself for a confession.

“There was something I noticed about Alec.” Lydia said slowly. “Something very strange. For three nights of every month, he would disappear— go out into the forest and spend the entire night there. He was always back in our room before morning, so I was the only one who ever noticed he was gone. At first I thought it was a tryst, that he was meeting someone. But the meetings were so regular, and when he came back he always seemed…” She shook her head. “He seemed dazed, like he couldn’t clearly remember what had happened. He always refused to tell me what he was doing.”

“No one else knew?” Magnus asked in.

“I told Isabelle and Jace, but no one else.” Lydia said. “We all tried at different times to ask Alec about it, but he brushed us off. Wouldn’t tell us anything.”

“And you think this has something to do with Alec disappearing now?” Magnus asked.

Lydia looked up at him, her gaze steady. “As I said, Alec would disappear for three nights in the middle of the month. During the day, he’d be at the castle as normal, but gone at night. Those three nights have just passed. He should have returned to the castle this morning, like he has every other time. But this time, he hasn’t returned.”

“So something’s changed.” Magnus said. “Something’s stopped him from coming back.” He forced back the possibility that Alec wasn’t just missing, that he was dead, gone forever. An image of Alec, lying still and cold in the forest, stole into his mind, and he felt a chill of horror.

Lydia leaned forward and grabbed his hands. “Don’t think that he’s dead, Magnus. You have to have hope. I do. I believe he’ll come back to us.”

Magnus looked up at her, feeling a wave of gratitude. For the first time, he felt no sort of jealousy towards Lydia, but only a deep-seated warmth and friendship. There was a sad irony in the fact that the thing they were bonding over was the disappearance of someone they both loved.

Hours later, Magnus rode away from the castle, his heart heavy. Jace, Isabelle and Lydia had planned to scour every inch of the barony, send out trackers into the forest and question every citizen of the region. Magnus didn’t know if they would find Alec. Didn’t know if Alec even wanted to be found. He didn’t even know if Alec wanted to be found.

What did I do to scare you off, Alec? I’m so sorry if I hurt you. Please come back to me.

Just two weeks ago, as he rode through this part of the country, Magnus had thought how beautiful it was. Now everything, from the hills to the sky, seemed grey and bleak. He bowed his head over his horse’s neck and allowed a few tears to fall, tears of grief and confusion and longing. Then he took a deep, shuddering breath and looked up at the sky, blinking rapidly to dispel the remaining tears. Life had to go on. He was the king, and kings didn’t have the luxury to neglect their kingdoms for private grief.

I hope you’re safe, my Alexander. Wherever you are.

________________________________________________

Three months passed, months in which Magnus tried to devote himself to the affairs of the kingdom. Every moment that he didn’t keep himself busy, thoughts of Alec floated into his head. Magnus wondered where he was, if he was safe, if he was even alive. If he missed Magnus.

He thought about Alec while in meetings with his council, while travelling to other parts of the kingdom, while signing treaties and while he tried to fall asleep.

Especially while he tried to fall asleep.

It wasn’t like he was constantly obsessed with searching for Alec. But the thought of him was always— literally always— at the back of Magnus’s mind.

Winter came, and the first snows fell, blanketing the lands around Magnus’s castle. One day, when the snow was thick on the ground, several members of Magnus’s council came to him and suggested a hunt.

“The castle needs game for the winter, your majesty, and it might cheer you up.”

And Magnus, thinking that it might at least be a distraction, agreed.

They rode out from the castle, a party of a dozen nobles on horseback, with their hawks and hounds. Everyone was dressed in warm fur-trimmed clothes against the winter chill, their breath steaming in the frosty air. Magnus’s horse, Kalon, stamped nervously at the noise around him. Magnus swung up into the saddle, but before he could ride out a hand reached out and seized his bridle. Catarina was frowning at him from the back of her own horse. “My lord, I’m not sure you should be accompanying us on this hunt. You’ve been troubled in your mind since…well....”

Since Alexander disappeared. The words were unspoken, but Magnus heard them clearly. He smiled at his old friend and advisor, and if the smile was a bit forced, well, that was his business. “Cat, I can assure you that I feel fine.”

Catarina glanced around, then leaned in closer to him. “Magnus, I feel a sense of foreboding about this. I think it would be wiser for you to stay inside the castle.”

“And miss out on all the fun?” Magnus replied lightly. He was aware of Ragnor, his other oldest friend, a few metres away. He was clearly pretending not to listen to their conversation. “I need this, Cat. I need a distraction.”

She didn’t look quite convinced, but she released his horse, and the whole party set out.

Winter had cast a blanket of silence over the forest. Their horses’ hooves thudded dully in the snow, accompanied by the jingling of metal and the creaking of leather. They rode for over an hour, but saw neither deer, bear or boar. The forest seemed empty, eerie in its blanket of white.

Magnus was on the point of suggesting they turn back when something caught his eye. A grey, hunched shape, almost hidden in the cluster of trees. As soon as he saw it, the thing darted away, slipping into the undergrowth. Magnus couldn’t have said why, but a sudden instinct sent him galloping into the trees after it. He heard the startled cries of his nobles behind him as he urged Kalon through the forest, hardly knowing what he was doing. Within seconds, he was out of sight of the hunting party, and the sound of their voices faded to silence.

Magnus charged through the forest after the skulking grey shape, but he had already lost sight of it. He slowed his horse to a walk, then stopped.

He was utterly alone. The forest stretched around him, cold and silent, and it occurred to Magnus that plunging wildly into the depths of the woods might not have been such a good idea.

He looked around once more, but there was no sign of the grey creature he’d been seeking. He was just about to turn his horse and head back to the hunting party when a low, shattering growl rumbled through the trees. Kalon screamed and reared in terror. Magnus was thrown from the saddle, crashing against the ground with an impact that drove the breath from his lungs. Dimly, he saw the horse galloping away in a panic, and he realised just how foolish he had been to charge off into the woods alone.

He tried to rise, but a lance of hot pain went through his ankle and he collapsed with a cry of pain. He must have hurt it in his fall. The low growl came from the trees again, and then Magnus’s stomach turned with terror as a hulking shape moved out of the trees into the clearing.

A bear wouldn’t normally attack a human, but it had been a harsh winter and this one looked hungry. It approached Magnus, that harsh growl emanating from its throat. He scrambled backwards, all too aware that he had no weapons, not even his hunting dagger. His hands slipped in the snow and he sprawled awkwardly on the ground.

Magnus pressed himself against the ground, trying to make himself go limp. It was a slim chance, but he’d heard of bears leaving people alone if they lay still and silent. He could hear it moving closer to him and he felt panic rising up inside him.

Then there was a snarl, and a grey shape shot out of the trees and threw itself between Magnus and the bear. A huge wolf, bigger than any Magnus had ever seen. Grey and shaggy, with hackles raised and teeth bared. Magnus stared in shock. The bear reared up on its hind legs with an angry snarl. It seemed as confused as Magnus was. He’d never heard of a wolf attacking a bear, certainly not a lone one. Although the wolf was the largest Magnus had ever seen, it was much smaller than the bear, who seemed to realise this. It jabbed a paw threateningly at the wolf, who growled threateningly in response. It was keeping itself between the bear and Magnus like a shield. The bear lashed out with its claws, and the wolf yelped in pain as four red gashes opened on its flank. Then it rallied, snarling at the bear, teeth snapping. It lunged, and the bear staggered backward under the onslaught of claws and teeth, seeming baffled by the other beast’s ferocity. It knocked the wolf away, but in a second it was up again, leaping at the bear and tearing at its hide.

As Magnus watched in terrified amazement, the bear actually retreated, dropping back to all fours and snuffling in confusion. The wolf snarled at it again, and the bear cowered, then turned and lumbered rapidly back into the trees. The wolf stood still for a moment, panting. Then its head swung back towards Magnus.

The fleeting relief he’d felt vanished, and he went cold with fear again. The wolf’s purpose was obvious-- it was hungry too, and had chased off the bear so it could eat Magnus instead. There was nowhere to run. Magnus pressed his cheek against the snow, trembling as the wolf padded towards him. He shut his eyes, scalding tears leaking out. Dimly, he wondered if it was in any way preferable to be devoured by a wolf rather than a bear. He really didn’t want to experience either.

He heard the soft crunch of the wolf’s paws as it approached, then the sound of its breath. He tensed, waiting for the searing agony of claws raking across his back, fangs tearing at his neck.

There was no pain of teeth or claws. Magnus’s heart pounded. Then he felt the wolf’s hot breath on his hand, and he flinched, anticipating the bite. But instead, the wolf licked his hand and nudged it, a sound almost like a whine coming from its throat.

Magnus opened one eye, just a crack. The wolf sat back on its haunches, watching him intently. It made a soft whuffling sound and nudged against Magnus’s side with its muzzle. Magnus froze, and the wolf drew back and looked at him for a second, almost like it was….trying to reassure him? It repeated the action, pushing gently at Magnus and whining softly, almost a pained sound.

Magnus still wasn’t quite sure that the wolf would hurt him, but he took a deep breath and tried to rise to his feet. His injured ankle sent a burst of agony up his leg and he dropped again, gasping. The wolf’s concerned whining grew in pitch. It took a step towards Magnus, dipping its neck and butting gently against him.

Magnus understood almost instantly what the wolf was trying to communicate. He also understood that there was something very, very strange about this wolf. It wasn’t behaving like a wild animal would at all. Rather, it seemed to be trying to help him.

Magnus breathed in again, then took hold of the thick ruff of fur around the wolf’s neck. In one shaky motion, he hauled himself to his feet. He swayed, the world swimming before his eyes, but his grip on the wolf’s fur steading him. Leaning on the beast, he limped back towards where he’d left the hunting party, following the tracks his horse had left earlier.

It was slow going, but every time Magnus stumbled the wolf steadied him, taking more than half his weight. As they went, it— he— kept swinging his head from side to side, ears pricked and alert for danger.

This is definitely not an ordinary wolf, Magnus thought.

They passed through another thick tangle of branches, and then Magnus could see, through the trees, his nobles up ahead of them. He staggered forward gratefully, the wolf still supporting him.

Magnus stepped into the clearing, and there was a flurry of screams and shouts as his courtiers saw what they thought was their King at the mercy of a wild beast. To his horror, several had arrows nocked to their bows, about to fire at his friend.

“No!” Magnus shouted. He ranged himself in front of the wolf, throwing his arms out to shield him. “No, it’s alright! He saved me!”

Catarina was the first to lower her bow. “Magnus, what is this?”

Magnus raised his hands defensively. “I fell and was attacked by a bear. This wolf chased it away and saved me. He hasn’t hurt me at all.” He stepped forwards, but his ankle gave way and he slumped to his knees. Behind him, the wolf yelped in alarm.

Cat’s eyes widened. “You’re hurt.” She ran to Magnus, several lords trailing behind her. Catarina skidded to her knees in the snow beside him, her blue velvet dress billowing out around her. Magnus stretched out his leg and Cat prodded it experimentally with a healer’s gentleness.

“Sprained,” she said, “but not broken. It’ll be alright in a few days. We’ll need to treat it at the castle— I haven’t got the supplies out here.”

“I’ve got your horse.” Ragnor called. He came over, leading Kalon. “We found him wandering in the forest— though how you managed to fall off, I don’t know.”

“He bolted when the bear attacked.” Magnus said.

Ragnor snorted. “Then he has more sense than you, at least. What were you thinking, racing off like that?”

“Ragnor’s right.” Catarina said, which was not a statement she made often. “You’re an idiot, Magnus.”

Magnus wagged a finger at her. “That’s insubordination, talking to the king like that.” He drew himself up huffily. “I demand you show a little more respect to your liege.”

“Oh no, he’s hallucinating.” Catarina said dryly. “We need to get him back to the castle before he starts turning cartwheels and singing.”

Magnus rolled his eyes at her, fondly, and allowed Ragnor to help him onto his horse. At that moment, the wolf, who had been standing silent until now, ran forwards and lunged up with his front paws, clutching at Magnus’s leg. In the back of his mind, Magnus noted that the beast had specifically reached for his uninjured ankle, so he didn’t cause Magnus pain.

Definitely not an ordinary wolf.

There were a few shouts from the courtiers, and Magnus saw one man’s hand drop to his sword. “Don’t you dare.” he snarled, rounding on him, and the lord flinched and moved back.

Magnus looked down at the wolf. It was whimpering, clasping his leg in a gesture almost like a hug. He felt a wave of sympathy for his new friend. “Do you want to come with me?”

The wolf’s tail wagged, and Magnus laughed. “Alright, my friend. Come home with me.”

His courtiers were all staring at him, clearly of the opinion that had lost his reason. Several were inching away from him.

“Magnus.” Ragnor said in a slow, careful voice. “That is a wolf. Wolves are dangerous.”

“Not this one.” Magnus argued. “He saved me. And he’s not an ordinary wolf— he’s far more intelligent. And look how gentle he is!” He reached down and scratched the wolf’s ears, and the beast gave a low rumble of contentment, eyes shutting in pleasure.

“It’s settled.” Magnus said. “He’s coming with us. The King decrees it.”

Magnus looked around at his courtiers, drawing someone to argue with him. No one did. He gave a satisfied nod and flicked the reins, leading the way back towards the castle. The wolf loped joyfully at his side. Several of the horses nickered in fear at the wolf’s presence, but their riders patted their necks and whispered to them until they were quiet.

Magnus looked down at his new companion, bounding along joyfully beside him. A smile tugged at his mouth. It seemed that he’d somehow acquired a wolf, and oddly enough, he felt nothing but happiness at the thought.

Back at the castle, Magnus’s ankle was quickly bandaged, and then he turned his attention to his wolf. The gashes down the animal’s side were still bleeding, and he wanted them tended to. None of the castle healers, not even Catarina, would go near the wolf, so Magnus heated water and washed the wound with his own hands. He smeared a healing salve along the wolf’s side and ran a hand through his fur. “Good as new, my friend.”

The wolf thumped his tail on the ground. Now that they were no longer in the woods, Magnus took a moment to study his new companion.The wolf’s fur was thick and shaggy, ash grey darkening to a black streak along his back. His eyes were an unusual shade of deep blue, filled with an almost human intelligence. Those eyes looked into Magnus’s trustingly, as if the wolf sensed he was safe. He didn’t tear or scratch at the wound either, as Magnus would have expected a wild animal to do.

“There’s more to you than meets the eye, isn’t there?” Magnus murmured. He stroked the thick fur of the wolf’s neck. “You’re not exactly a normal wolf, are you?”

The wolf thumped his tail again, putting a paw on Magnus’s knee. He laughed and stood up. “Listen to me, talking to a wolf. Well, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want, my friend. I’ll look after you.”

The wolf sprang to his feet, tail wagging. He cuddled up to Magnus’s legs like a friendly dog, and Magnus smiled fondly. He yawned, suddenly exhausted. It had been an absolute tumult of a day. He’d nearly died, been injured and made a new friend— a very strange friend, but no less welcome.

Magnus hesitated a moment, looking down at the wolf. “What am I going to do with you?” He didn’t know if putting the beast in the royal stables was the best idea. The castle’s hunting dogs were all trained to hunt down wolves, and Magnus didn’t want to risk his new friend getting hurt.

He made a decision, beckoning to the wolf and setting off down the corridor. His friend followed beside him without a second’s hesitation. They walked through the stone halls, dim and silent at this time of night, lit only by the torches on the walls. Magnus reached his own chamber and opened the door. He looked down at the wolf. “Does this suit you, my friend?”

The wolf answered the question by springing inside and looking back at Magnus expectantly. He laughed and followed it into the room, sighing in contentment as he took in the familiar surroundings. His room was decorated in rich scarlet, with thick tapestries hung on the walls to keep out the cold and a plush red rug. There was a fire crackling in the grate, dispelling the winter chill. His limbs sagged with exhaustion, craving sleep.

Magnus quickly readied for bed and crawled between the covers. He blinked sleepily at his wolf, still standing in the centre of the room. “You can come up here if you want.” He patted the end of the bed, expecting the wolf to curl up there like Magnus’s hunting dogs did sometimes.

The wolf seemed to consider, then seemed to shake his head. He crossed instead to the door and stretched himself out along the base of it, flopping down with his head on his paws. Like that, no one could enter the room without disturbing the wolf. The message was clear— he saw it as his mission to protect Magnus.

“Oh.” Magnus murmured. His heart felt very full suddenly. “Thank you, my friend.” The wolf glanced up at him and flicked his ears at Magnus, almost as if to say, Rest. Magnus smiled and curled up, drawing the blankets around him. He fell asleep with his friend guarding him, feeling safer than he ever had before.

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