magnvs

[magnvs]

[magnvs]

haven’t figured out anything about the witcher verse that i want to add to this blog except for the fact that magnus will 100% be best friends with keira metz, ok !! 

[magnvs]

.•✧•. BELATED BIRTHDAY SURPRISE . //  @magnvs​ .

𝐀  𝐕𝐈𝐀𝐋  𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐃  𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍  𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒  ,

          held  reverently  as  though  the   HOLY  GRAIL   itself  has  found  it’s  way  across  centuries   (   much  like  the  warlock  holding  it   )   and  come  to  rest  within  pale  palms .   a  potion   …   of  sorts  .   the  liquid  a  swirl  of  purple ,   glittered  wisps  catching  the  light  with  every  minuscule  movement  of  his  hand .   within  the  glass ,   an  intricate  brew ,   one  he  has  been  working  on  for  the  past  few  months .

     there’s  a  hint  of  a  nervous  smile  gracing  full  lips  as  he  extends  the   GIFT   towards  the  other ,   awaiting  his  verdict ,   anticipation  almost  palpable  in  the  air  between  them .    

          ❛   HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  ,   my  love .   ❜   and  at  this ,   he  does  smile                             the  bottle  now  unstoppered  to  reveal  a  unique  scent ,   one  only  tangible  to  it’s  user .   ❛   a  simple  bottle  of  perfume  would  have  been  too  easy .   instead ,   I  played  around  with  a  few  potions  to  give  you  a  perfume  that  smells  of  the  things  you  love   most  .   so  now ,   wherever  you  are ,   whatever  you  might  be  doing ,   you  can  be  reminded  of  those  things .   ❜   he’s  grinning  now ,   blue  hues  sparking  with  unrestrained   triumph  .   ❛                              oh  ,   and  it’s  magicked  to  never  run  out  !   ❜

[magnvs]

   ✧    .   .  .   𝚒  𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔  𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘   𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖘  .   𝚒  𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕  𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎   𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼  .   ᴵ  ᵀᵁᴿᴺ  &  ᵀᵁᴿᴺ  ᴬᴳᴬᴵᴺ .   𝚒  𝚊𝚖   ᏢᎾᎳᎬᏒ   𝚊𝚗𝚍  𝚒  𝚊𝚖   𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓  .         :        𝚒 𝚊𝚖 .   .  .    𝐈  𝐀𝐌 .   .  .   𝐈  𝐀𝐌 .      

INDIE   &   HIGHLY SELECTIVE .   :   MAGICKED    BY    OLESIA .

[magnvs]

happy new year, don’t forget that australia's south coast fire, stretched out, could draw a line from sydney to afghanistan & that the capital city currently has the worst air quality in the world - about 20x over the unsafe threshold. 

[magnvs]

just logging in to tell y’all: i always knew that miss veronica cordelia lodge was going to be a columbia girl, bye!

[magnvs]

𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖓𝖚𝖘 𝖇𝖆𝖓𝖊 / 𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖈𝖐𝖊𝖉 𝖇𝖞 𝖟𝖊𝖑𝖉𝖆.

   𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒      together ,     as  if  in  prayer ,     and  closed  his  eyes .          ❝     My  father ,     ❞          he  said ,     and  Clary  heard  Alec  suck  in  his  breath  with  a  gasp .          ❝     My  father ,     who  art  in  Hell ,     UNHALLOWED  be  thy  name .     Thy  Kingdom  come ,     thy  will  be  done ,     in  𝔢𝔡𝔬𝔪  as  it  is  in  𝖍𝖊𝖑𝖑 .     Forgive  not  my  sins ,     for  in  that  𝙵𝙸𝚁𝙴  𝙾𝙵  𝙵𝙸𝚁𝙴𝚂  there  shall  be  neither  loving  kindness ,     nor  compassion ,     nor  redemption .     𝙈𝙔  𝙁𝘼𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 ,     who  makes  war  in  high  places  and  low ,     come  to  me  now ;     I  call  you  as  your  son ,     and  incur  upon  myself  the  ɹǝsdousıqılıʇʎ  oɟ  ʎonɹ  snɯɯouıuƃ .     ❞

[magnvs]

✧･ﾟ:* DAUGHTER LYRIC STARTERS     ╱      OPEN.  

❝     Most  of  us  are  bitter  over  someone .     ❞

𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄  read  from  across  the  surface  of  the  pool ,     gaze  remaining  suitably  level  from  behind  the  Cartier  sunglasses  which  cost  more  than  the  total  sum  of  savings  that  most  people  his  age  have  in  their  bank  accounts                                              though  there  remains  a  noticeable  furrow  to  Magnus’  brow  even  as  he  lounges  on  a  deck  chair  beside  Astoria ,     margarita  in  hand .     He  does  not  doubt  that  her  words  are  intended  to  be  comforting     (  she  has  an  excellent  track  record  when  it  concerns  the  matter  of  telling  Magnus  precisely  what  he  needs  to  hear  ) ,     but  even  Astoria  cannot  always  find  victory  over  his  pride .          ❝     I  DON’T KNOW  what  you  mean ,     ❞          he  tells  her .

                                         ↪ @shexquisite​.

[magnvs]

(   *   &.   –   DAUGHTER  LYRIC  STARTERS .

HOW .

‘  how long must i wait for you?  ’

‘  how long must i wait for you to become what i need?  ’

‘  how long before the last dance?  ’

‘  how come he’s the one to let me down?  ’

SMOTHER .

‘  i want all that is not mine.  ’

‘  i want him, but we’re not right.  ’

‘  they will all agree i’m a suffocate.  ’

‘  i should go now quietly.  ’

‘  what a mess i leave to follow.  ’

‘  i’m sorry if i smothered you.  ’

CANDLES .

‘  take me away into the night.  ’

‘  i’ll do whatever you say to me in the dark.  ’

‘  blow out all the candles.  ’

‘  you’re too old to be this shy.  ’

‘  i bite my tongue and torch my dreams.  ’

‘  things cannot be reversed, we learn from the time we are cursed.  ’

‘  we both know i’ll never be your lover.  ’

HUMAN .

‘  my mind’s lost in bleak visions.  ’

‘  i’ve tried to escape but keep sinking.  ’

‘  he’s lost faith he’ll ever see again.  ’

‘  buried deep within there’s a human.  ’

‘  despite everything i’m still human.  ’

‘  i think i’m dying here.  ’

‘  i’m all ready for healing.  ’

‘  i think that i’m still human.  ’

LANDFILL .

‘  don’t think about the consequences.  ’

‘  don’t think about the choices you make.  ’

‘  this is torturous electricity between both of us.  ’

‘  this is dangerous because i what you so much.  ’

‘  i want you so much, but i hate your guts.  ’

‘  i hate you.  ’

‘  wipe away your tear stains.  ’

‘  thought you said you didn’t feel pain.  ’

MEDICINE .

‘  pick it all up and start again.  ’

‘  you’ve got a second chance.  ’

‘  you could go home.  ’

‘  escape it all, it’s just irrelevant.  ’

‘  it’s just medicine.  ’

‘  you could still be what you want to.  ’

‘  you’ve got a warm heart.  ’

‘  you’ve got a beautiful brain.  ’

‘  it’s disintegrating from all the medicine.  ’

ALONE  /  WITH  YOU .

‘  i hate sleeping alone.  ’

‘  i hate living alone.  ’

‘  talking to myself is boring conversation.  ’

‘  me and i are not friends, she is only an acquaintance.  ’

‘  i hate dreaming of being alone ‘cause you are never there.  ’

‘  i should get a dog or something.  ’

‘  i hate sleeping with you ‘cause you are never there.  ’

‘  you and i were once friends, now you’re only an acquaintance.  ’

‘  i hate dreaming of being with you.  ’

LOVE .

‘  i can’t forget it, though i’ve tried.  ’

‘  i know you regret it, you told me so many times.  ’

‘  but i still wonder why you left with her and left me behind.  ’

‘  take your hands off him ‘cause he’s the only one that i have ever loved.  ’

‘  he’s the only one that i have ever loved.  ’

‘  please don’t find her skin when you turn the lights off.  ’

‘  i can’t erase it from my mind.  ’

‘  i just reply it, think about it all the time.  ’

‘  i don’t want to imagine the words you spoke to her that night.  ’

‘  you both knew i’d be bleeding inside.  ’

‘  did she make your heart beat faster than i could?  ’

‘  did she give you what you hoped for?  ’

‘  i hope it made you feel good knowing how much i adored you.  ’

‘  you’re making me sick, love.  ’

YOUTH .

‘  it’s a waste of time.  ’

‘  if you’re still breathing, you’re the lucky ones.  ’

‘  most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs.  ’

‘  we are the reckless, we are the wild youth.  ’

‘  one day we’ll reveal the truth.  ’

‘  if you’re still bleeding, you’re the lucky ones.  ’

‘  most of our feelings, they are dead and they are gone.  ’

‘  we’re setting fire to our insides for fun.  ’

‘  it was a flood that wrecked this home.  ’

‘  you caused it.  ’

‘  i’m a lifeless face that you’ll soon forget.  ’

‘  my eyes are damp from the words you left ringing in my head when you broke my chest.  ’

‘  if you’re in love then you are the lucky one.  ’

‘  most of us are bitter over someone.  ’

‘  i’m forever missing him.  ’

[magnvs]

      ✧ @magnvs :

here’s a letter written out in perfectly looped handwriting on magnus’ classic monogrammed stationary, left for merlin to wake up to while magnus portals to paris & buys him croissants and macarons from their favourite little bakery in the 9th arrondissement (you know the one). “do you ever think about the *massive* impact you’ve left on the world? think of everything that wouldn’t be here if not for you. entire countries? most likely. civilisation as we know it? probably. me? definitely. in 1507 years, you’ve filled up the entire world with traces and pieces of yourself, hidden in every corner, even if no one quite knows it - but i accepted long ago that you have shaped every single one of my movements from the moment that i fell in love. i pray that my life will always go hand in hand with yours. happy birthday, my love. i’ll see you soon. magnus.” a postscript near the end of the page reads, “new york is too cold for a bright soul like yours - i should awfully like to go away with you somewhere where it is hot and coloured. dress lightly.” (let’s pretend it’s still november 1st, shall we? even though in this house, it’s never too late to celebrate merlin’s birthday.) 

.•✧•. 1507TH BIRTHDAY . //  accepting .

THE  WARLOCK  WAKES  AS  IF  FROM  A  HAZE  ,      sunlight  streaming  in  through  curtained  windows  as  if  in  active  rebellion  against  the  longer ,   darker  nights  taking  hold  of  the  city .   or  perhaps  merlin  had  simply  slept  in   (   which  wasn’t  a  rare  occcurance   -   not  at  18 ,   especially  not  at  1507   ) .   except  now ,   he  could  blame  old  age  for  that  particular  vice .   stretching ,   his  hand  reaches  towards  the  side  usually  occupied  by  his  companion ,   though  fingers  grasp  at  nothing  but  empty  sheets .   hues  of  blue  peek  from  beneath  dark  lashes ,   confirming  magnus’   ABSENCE   in  one  dreary  sweep  of  his  surroundings .   and  all  of  a  sudden ,   the  day  doesn’t  seem  as  bright  anymore .   surely ,   his  husband  wouldn’t  leave  him  on  his  birthday   …

     a  second ,   more  thorough ,   glance  around  the  room  alerts  merlin  to  the  note  left  on  his  bedside  table  which  lithe  fingers  pluck  from  the  surface  almost  immediately .   lips  tug  at  the  corners  in  a  growing  smile  as  he   DEVOURS   each  and  every  word  looped  across  the  page  in  magnus’  perfect  handwriting .   

     merlin  loved  him .   dear  god ,   he   loved   him  with  an  alarming  intensity  that  only  seemed  to  grow  with  each  year  that  passed  them  by  in  blissful  companionship .   all  those  years  before  did  not  shine  as  brightly  as  the  day  magnus   BLAZED   his  way  into  his  life .   it  was  as  though  he  woke  up  from  a  haze  with  brilliant  sunshine  caressing  skin  starved  of  light ,   banishing  memories  of  the  dark  in  one  fell  swoop .   much  like  this  morning .   so  who  was  it  that  left  a  bigger  impact  on  who  ?   merlin  supposed  it  was  equally  life  changing  for  the  both  of  them .

     a  fire  message  is  hastily  composed  and  sent  to  the  other  warlock ,   SOFT   smile  gracing  merlin’s  lips  as  he  buries  himself  back  under  the  covers  :   

‘   i  find  myself  alone ,   in  a  bed ,   on  my  birthday ,   with  my  personal  ray  of  sunshine  nowhere  in  sight .   come  back  soon .    the  maker  of  civilisations  demands  it .   merlin .   ’        

[magnvs]

PSA from a south-east asian: y’all have got to stop changing magnus’ ethnicity! thanks!

[magnvs]

please know that australia is on fire. we’ve lost 10 times the amount of land the amazon rainforest lost. we are in drought. no one is talking about it. our government is ignoring climate change. the firefighters are now paying for fuel for their trucks out of their own pockets. our prime minister refuses international help. people are dying. wildlife are dying. the fires are catastrophic and spreading so fast. please hear us. my home is burning. it is spring.

[magnvs]

✧･ﾟ:* myyrddin‌ *:･ﾟ✧

     WITHIN  THE  PAST  TWENTY  FOUR  HOURS    his  life  had  been  threatened  more  times  than  merlin  had  the  desire  to  count .   his  uncle ,   the  telmarine  army ,   a  dwarf ,   a   MOUSE   and  every  other  narnian  who  he  didn’t  think  existed  until  now .   strange ,   how  things  could  become  so  different  in  a  matter  of  moments                              an  exiled  prince  leading  an  army  of  narnians  from  tales  of  old  when  only  yesterday  their  existence  was  nothing  more  than  a  curious  illustration  in  gaius’  forbidden  tome .

     and  there  was  still  a  part  of  him  that  wanted  to  believe  in  magic   (   the  terribly  naive  and  childish  part   ) ,   that  all  of  this  had  been  fated  long  ago .   a  boy  on  the  cusp  of  manhood ,   a  prince  moulding  into  a  king .   grand  delusions  or  irrevocable  faith  in  the  unseen ?   there  was  one  thing  that  merlin  did  know ,   and  it  was  that  the  peace  he  had  promised  the  narnians  walking  beside  him  could  not  be  achieved  without   SACRIFICE .   a  battle  the  likes  of  which  narnia  hasn’t  seen  in  a  thousand  years  was  dawning  on  the  horizon .

     yet  somber  thoughts  did  not  offer  distraction  enough  to  miss  the  telling  rustling  of  leaves   (   his  first  encounter  with  reepicheep  had  him  on  high  alert  ever  since   )   before  a  stranger’s  arrow  is  aimed   MALICIOUSLY   at  an  unsuspecting  minotaur  within  his  company .   the  prince  spares  no  thought  before  telmar  sword  skims  the  distance  between  them  and  comes  dangerously  close  to  delicate  neck  of  the  would - be - assassin .

     but  the  confident  drawl  of  the  stranger’s  words  gives  him  pause ,   dark  brows  twisting  in  confusion  before  blue  hues  take  note  of  the  man’s  bow  and  the  almost  familiar   GOLDEN   eyes  come  to  life  from  the  pages  of  an  ancient  tome  that  had  enraptured  him  ever  since  he  was  a  child .   ❛   high  king  magnus  ?   ❜

     and  sword  lowers  hastily ,   fingers  gripping  the  hilt  with  anxious  energy  though  the  quirk  of  full  lips  portrays  anything  but ,   ❛   i  was  expecting  someone   OLDER  …   ❜

𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐃𝐌𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐍𝐔𝐒𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐋-𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐋𝐃.      It  remains  a  difficult  concept  to  grasp ;     the  idea  that  so  much  time  has  passed  in  Narnia  when  he  had  only  spent  a  year  in  his  own  world  after  having  tumbled  back  through  the  wardrobe  which  had  once  granted  him  entry  to  what  would  soon  become  his  kingdom     (  a  part  of  him  aches  at  the  realisation  that  he  had  never  said  a  proper  goodbye  to  Mr .   Tumnus ,     or  Mr .     &&     Mrs .   Beaver  ) . . .     but  Magnus  supposes  that  there  remain  a  great  deal  of  stranger                                              and  entirely  more  pressing                                              matters  which  are  rightly  calling  for  his  attention .     Perhaps  he  should  start  with  the  silver  blade ,     which  hovers  dangerously  at  the  curve  of  his  neck  as  the  stranger  speaks .     

          His  eyes  flicker  downward ,      and  remain  fixed  upon  the  weapon  even  in  the  moments  after  it  is  finally  lowered  far  enough  to  avoid  inflicting  any  harm .          ❝     If  you’re  that  disappointed ,     I  could  come  back  in  a  few  years ,     ❞         he  suggests ,     struggling  to  keep  his  tone  light  even  as ,     having  felt  somewhat  satisfied  that  he  was  no  longer  in  any  immediate  danger  from  the  prince ,     his  gaze  flickers  uncertainly  towards  the  Minotaur .          ❝     I’m  sure  there  will  be  some  Nazis  left  for  me  to  fight  in  Europe .    ❞

          It  isn’t  exactly  what  he  wants  to  be  doing .     Aslan  had  called  him  Magnus  the  Valiant ,     once                                              but  it  was  certainly  difficult  for  him  to  feel  valiant  when  wars  waged  on  all  fronts  in  his  own  realm  and  he  had  yet  to  participate .     It  was  just  that . . .     Magnus  had  thought  that  he  was  done  with  war ,     that  the  end  of  the  bloodshed  and  fighting  between  the  Narnians  and  the  White  Witch’s  army  had  marked  the  release  of  the  second  horseman’s  clutches  upon  his  head  and  heart ,     the  retreat  of  the  cruel  harbinger’s  red  sword  from  his  chest .     War  had  embroiled  the  mortal  world  twice  over ,     but  for  Magnus ,     it  had  been  thrice ,     and  his  return  to  Narnia  almost  feels  like  a  cruel  repetition  of  history                                              he  is  just  as  young ,     and  just  as  afraid  as  he  was  in  the  Witch’s  eternal  winter .     

          Nevertheless ;     where  war  is  smart ,     he  is  cunning ,     and  does  not  allow  his  fear  to  slip  through  the  cracks  of  a  wry  smile  in  the  face  of  those  who  have  accepted  his  tale  of  an  ordinary  young  man  in  extraordinary  circumstances  as  mythos .     He  straightens  up     &&     secures  his  bow  at  his  back  as  he  speaks ,     before  slowly  extending  a  hand  in  lieu  of  an  olive  branch .          ❝     I  tend  to  go  by  MAGNUS ,     nowadays .     Americans  don’t  particularly  like  the  idea  of  royalty .     ❞          He  knows  it’s  a  joke  which  is  bound  to  go  over  Merlin’s  head                                              and  it’s  why  Magnus  quickly  clears  his  throat ,     instead  choosing  to  incline  his  head  towards  the  Minotaur ;     as  if  to  insist  that  he’s  curious ,     not  frightened .          ❝     I  suppose  common  enemies  have  a  tendency  to  unite  old  foes . . ??     ❞

[magnvs]

muse  x  mun.  //  magnus  x  zelda.

tagged:      my  love  @myyrddin. tagging:     you !!

[magnvs]

With ( Canadian ) Thanksgiving upon us, I wanted to take a second to say how thankful I am to all the wonderful people I’ve gotten to meet through writing Jughead here. I value you all so much, as writers but as more than that too. You are all such talented, unique, creative, beautiful individuals and I love getting to talk to you about your lives, your day, your favourite characters, anything and everything. You all hold such a special place in my heart, and I’m grateful for every friendship I have, every bit of inspiration you provide me, every kindness you show, and all that you are. You guys are amazing.

To the greatest people in the universe : @icarusinvited , @bubblegumxveil , @wrcngbitch , @witchalf , @fairisfair , @fantasyled / @shecooper , @dangeress , @nancy–wheeler , @molyes , @privilodge ( or whatever blog you currently use … ) , @mythite , @ineveryvein , @anticheryl , @magnvs , @vanityriot, @ascotwearing , @wreckshavoc , @divainity , @shedetect , @nosestealer , @reusod , @heartsunholy , @bansheeintuition , @rosescut , @phlipshea , @progenither , @richatire , @thewailer ,  and to those I’m forgetting, I’m sorry and I love you too <3

[magnvs]

laptop’s in for repairs. be back soon! 

[magnvs]

*   𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹𝑻𝑬𝑹  !   ————————   @myyrddin.     ˖⁺₊

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆, 𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐔𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐓.   He  can  almost  picture  it  now ,     he  thinks ,     even  as  he  continues  to  hike  through  the  woods  beside  Trumpkin ,     who  has  cast  a  sideways  glance  towards  him  no  less  than  eight  times  in  the  past  twenty  minutes  or  so ,     as  if  to  check  that  he’s  still  there .     Fresh  meat ,     doused  in  rosemary  and  eager  to  fall  away  from  the  bone .     Perhaps  a  side  of  roast  potatoes ,     if  he  was  lucky .     Where  meat  had  become  a  wartime  luxury  that  his  mother  could  not  afford  on  one  income ,     his  first  visit  to  Narnia  had  allowed  Magnus  to  become  accustomed  to  eating  meat  during  one ,     even  two  meals  each  day ,     and  he  had  never  quite  gotten  used  to  his  transition  back  to  twentieth  century  American  delicacies .     

                    It  is ,     perhaps ,     in  poor  taste  to  consider  such  a  thing  when  he’d  made  a  habit  of  befriending  intelligent  Narnian  animals  in  the  past                                              but  he’s  been  surviving  on  nothing  but  orchard  apples  for  the  last  week ,     and  he  isn’t  sure  that  he’ll  even  be  able  to  stomach  his   mother’s  Brown  Betties  once  he  returns  home .     If  he  returns     (  and  it’s  a  considerable  if ,     particularly  in  Aslan’s  absence  ) .     A  low  growl ,     however ,     is  quick  to  interrupt  his  introspection ,     and  Magnus  is  all  but  prepared  to  apologise  for  his  stomach  when  a  survey  of  golden  eyes  across  the  perimeter  alerts  him  of  the  real  danger .

                     ❝     Is  that                                              ❞         is  all  he  has  time  to  whisper  before  Trumpkin  is  dragging  him  into  the  nearby  shrubbery     &&     and  out  of  the  Minotaur’s  sight .     Magnus  is  far  from  a  practiced  swordsman ,     but  his  aim  is  true ,     and  when  he  edges  out  from  their  makeshift  cover  to  pulls an  arrow  from  the  quiver  strapped  to  his  back     &&     nock  the  weapon  with  a  quiet  exhale  of  breath ,     the  only  obstacle  that  successfully  hinders  him  from  letting  it  fly  is  the  rush  of  silver  as  the  point  of  a  sword  taps  at  the  underside  of  his  chin .

                    ❝     Easy ,     now ,    ❞         Trumpkin  warns  with  a  rustle  of  leaves  as  he  emerges                                              but  Magnus ,     for  his  part ,     has  found  interest  in  the  familiar  horn  strapped  to  the  stranger’s  belt,     caught  only  through  a  hasty  downward  glance .

                     ❝     I  believe  you  called  ??     ❞          He  asks ,     though  a  great  deal  of  his  bravado  softens  as  he  makes  eye  contact  with  the  man  who  can  only  be  the  Prince .