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''But I've already had all those fairy tales read to me,'' Madzie began in protest when Magnus was about to open the storybook Ragnor and Catarina usually used. It was one they had bought her for her 7th birthday. With soft pages, multicolored cover, and many illustrations which usually never failed to hold her interest. But this time she had wrinkled her brows, her head defiantly tipped back, and Magnus was positive she was ready to push herself back to her feet and refuse to be lulled to sleep.
He halted and propped his chin in hand, ''Is there another book you would prefer?''
Madzie was thoughtful for a few seconds, seizing the moment when Magnus wouldn't reject her suggestion, ''We could stay to watch movies all night. Mom and dad allow that sometimes.''
''Not when you have school tomorrow, and not when they've asked me to make sure you arrive on time.''
''You mean you have to babysit me,'' she corrected with a tone tinged with disapproval.
''Sweet pea, you know how much I enjoy spending time with you. It's far from an obligation. And I believe we've had a pretty fun day, haven't we?''
They've gone to the movies, went shopping and Madzie had invited some of her friends to come over and play around the house, while Magnus had been the adult who keeps an eye on the discipline, but also allows to be involved in games simultaneously.
He would only stay with Madzie for two more days. Because Catarina had late shifts at the hospital this time of the year, and Ragnor was travelling at sea because of a sudden arrangement he hadn't been able to postpone. He was due to return soon though, probably taking it easy with his travels from now on.
Things had changed and shifted since he married, even more so after he and Catarina adopted Madzie. His priorities had altered from those of the eternal bachelor he no longer was, to the family driven man he had become.
If the situation was different, Magnus knew he would envy him, unable to stop that feeling from crashing onto him. But deep down he wanted nothing but happiness for Ragnor. He deserved it, and never once had he treated Magnus badly.
Eight years after he saved him from drowning, they were still very close friends, and Magnus cared for him like family. He knew that the only thing preventing Madzie from calling him 'uncle' more often, was that he just preferred to set his age a little further back in time. Not a problem she had with her other uncle, but well... Magnus was Magnus. One of the things he was still challenged by, was the incredibly quick aging process mundanes went through. He liked to believe his years won't catch up to him this mercilessly, just as he often imagined himself to look a lot younger than his approximate human age.
He shook his head at himself and turned back to Madzie, who was now trying to convince him to a night of movies.
''What about a compromise? We'll have a late tv night when your parents and your other uncle could join us, but for now we'll think of something else.''
Madzie tilted her head while trying to decide if Magnus was offering a good deal, ''Only under one condition.''
''What is that?'' Magnus lifted his brows in attention.
''I want you to tell me a story I've never heard before. But... I also want it to be close to the Cinderella fairy tale, because that story is my favourite.''
He flashed her a smile and put away the storybook, ''This is quite the challenge.''
''Do you accept?''
Magnus briefly checked his watch, seeing that it was past 9pm, and if Madzie was not to oversleep and not be late for school tomorrow, he had to start narrating a compelling story as soon as he could think of one.
''Alright, we have a deal,'' he replied, sitting back and trying to come up with something.
His imagination was usually a decent blend of brilliance and wit, with a pinch of nonsense to go with it. Unfortunately though, he was coming short of ideas in this short notice. His eyes darted away and he folded his arms over his chest, sagging in uncertainty and lack of resolution.
As soon as something crossed his mind, Magnus bit down on his lower lip, his gaze lost somewhere else and the feeling of hesitance settling over. He shifted on his seat, suddenly having the sense of being in a tough spot. Not because Madzie would be mad if he doesn't think of something, but because the story he wanted to tell, he had never shared with someone who wasn't part of his past. A rush of vulnerability swept over him. He would be at odds with himself if he didn't believe he could change everything he must, and still keep the essence of what was important.
Finally he lifted his chin and rolled his shoulders back, his mind no longer jumping between indecision and doubt. It could be a story like any other, Magnus would be keeping it in check. He offered Madzie a faint smile and started, ''Once upon a time, there was an exceptionally attractive merman, living in the deepest parts of the ocean. His home was part of a territory ruled by a very strict king, and his equally stern queen.''
Madzie leaned back in her bed, following the story while pulling the covers over her shoulders.
Magnus cleared his throat, ''It just so happened that... one of the sons the king and queen had, couldn't find himself а suitable bride. He was the oldest, so a lot of responsibilities lied on his shoulders, the pressure to settle down being one of them. One day, his parents told him that if he doesn't find a partner soon, they would force him into a marriage of their choosing. The prince was despairing, cornered because of the demands of his family. But because he was always taught to respect the will of his parents, and always accept the consequences, he decided on a plan how to find a significant other who wouldn't necessarily be someone he marries out of duty.''
''What was his plan?'' Madzie asked when Magnus paused for a little too long, even after trying to approach the story in a more impersonal way.
''You see... the prince was a terrible dancer- a fact he had stopped hiding a while ago. Pushed by this knowledge, he decided to organise a dancing contest, to which every mer-person in the area was invited.''
''You mean a ball?''
''Sure, let's call it a ball,'' Magnus chuckled. ''During the event, every candidate for his hand would have a chance to dance with him for a span of two minutes. In the end, the prince would start courting the person, with whom he managed not to lose rhythm or be swept by the flow of the ocean, both of which usually happened to him instantly, every time he tried to swim and sway to any music.''
''Did he have problems with his balance?'' Madzie asked, a little confused. ''I thought because he can't trip and fall in the water, dancing as a merman would be easier.''
''Not for him,'' Magnus responded. ''Somehow his sense of tempo was very problematic. Luckily though, the merman at the beginning of our story had just the way to bring him some much needed grace.''
''How?''
''With magic,'' Magnus followed, watching attention spring to Madzie's eyes. ''Our merman, just like some other mermans, had unique gifts which resembled magic very closely.''
''Did the female mermaids have those gifts too?''
''Yes, but the mermaids had their gifts more connected to nature. Which was exactly what the prince had calculated. He knew that the only way for his dancing to not look embarrassing, no matter the partner, was if magic helped his lack of skills. And such kinds of magic could only be cast by a merman.''
''He was crafty,'' Madzie concluded.
''You could say so. He was also determined to find a way to both fulfill the will of his parents, and be happy.''
''Did he succeed?''
''Not without some troubles along the way. At first, he was worried because not many male mermans showed up to dance with him. He feared maybe there weren't many others who were even interested. He feared he was too different. But of course, what he didn't know was that his parents were doing everything they could to limit his choices, and force every merman back on his way when no one was looking. The merman from our story didn't have it easy while trying to get past the protections of the underwater castle. Eventually, after using more magic to disguise himself as a mermaid, he managed to pass through and meet the prince for the first time.
''His heart was beating so fast, his head bowed until the prince told him to look up. A curious pair of hazel eyes were watching him, and even though he had heard the prince was not unpleasant to look at, he was still caught off guard. Before that point, everything he had done was out of desire to have some fun, to be a part of the adventure and intrigue. Overcoming the protections of the castle and meeting the prince had been a challenge to him, entertaining and even a little dangerous. That's mostly why he was interested, he didn't expect for it to be anything more.''
''When did he realise it was more?'' Madzie asked, her tone quieter and matching Magnus's serene voice.
''When he felt the heat rush up to his face. He rarely ever blushed, being reasonably confident most of the time. But surprisingly he lost some of that in the presence of the prince. Determined to get it back, he told himself to take the initiative and not waste the few minutes he had. Because this was the payoff from all his efforts, and he was ready to show off, show the prince all the dancing moves he had. Using a pearl bracelet he had around his wrist, his magic wrapped around both him and the prince, summoning sparks which could only be seen by the two of them.''
''Where did the merman find such a bracelet?''
''He had made it himself. That's why it often shined every time he wore it. It was reacting to his powers and magnifying them. So when their dance truly began, they were both moving in perfect sync with the music.''
''Must have been magical.''
''Yes,'' Magnus confirmed dreamily. ''The only thing that pulled them out of their daze, was the announcement that their moment had to end. The merman felt sadness shooting up his body when it was time to head out. So he took off his bracelet and offered it to the prince as something to remember him by. He knew the prince had danced with countless others, and he wanted to be remembered.''
''Do you think if he hadn't done that, he would still have made an impression on the prince?''
Madzie's question was fair, and it made Magnus purse his lips in reflection, ''I think it's funny how a lot of life-altering events come to happen. If he hadn't made an impression that time, another opportunity would have presented itself. And the merman rarely passed any chance for a challenge.''
Madzie's face brightened at that idea- that the prince and the merman would have found a way back to each other either way.
''It wasn't instant love,'' Magnus said to clear that out of the way. ''More like instant interest which turned into more, only because both were willing to take a chance. Like when the prince decided to find the merman using the bracelet, wrongly assuming that the bracelet would start glowing whenever the merman was near, exposing who he was right away.''
''Isn't that what happened?''
''No,'' Magnus shook his head. ''By the time the prince found the merman, a lot of days had went by. The bracelet hadn't been powered by the merman's magic in a while, so it no longer reacted to him the same. Could you imagine how awkward it was- the prince putting the bracelet back around the merman's wrist, only to see it not glowing this time.''
''That's like... if Cinderella couldn't fit in her glass slipper when they reached her house in the end.''
''Good analogy,'' Magnus noted.
Madzie flashed him a smile and then commented further, ''I can't imagine what the prince would have done.''
''It was complicated, because the merman had disguised himself as a mermaid when they first met. But when the prince saw him again he was just himself, standing under the attention of the prince's counselors, looking like everybody else who had tried to wear the bracelet before him. Appearing ordinary and simple, which was a very difficult moment for him.''
''Couldn't he have demonstrated his magic in front of them? As proof he was the one the prince danced with.''
''Sure, but remember he wasn't the only merman who had magic. In addition, he didn't want to be the one proving himself, the one looked under a microscope and being doubted. He wanted to see if the prince would recognise him without his disguise and without his powers. He wanted to see whether or not the prince had paid him enough attention to identify him amongst others, if he noticed him the same way the merman hoped.''
Madzie waited, expecting the answer with her features gathered in concentration.
''The prince didn't say anything when his advisers told the merman to move away. He let them send him off, and the merman swallowed back the rush of disappointment. The tide of his feelings was heavy on him, and he wasn't about to stay even a minute longer,'' Magnus paused before sharing what transpired next. ''It was after that, when he was swimming away and putting his emotions in check, when the prince eventually went after him, ignoring the others and swimming to catch up.''
''So the prince didn't disappoint him in the end?''
''Far from it,'' Magnus carried on. ''As the merman was about to discover, this prince didn't do anything halfway. He decided to court the merman until he earned his forgiveness. After that he courted him officially in the process of getting to know him better, and it was a long period of months before he finally proposed.''
''What did they do all that time before marrying?'' Madzie questioned, trying to picture the long courting rituals that were actually a lot less tiresome than she must have thought.
''They dated,'' Magnus clarified, finding the mundane word for that. ''And generally just did whatever they wanted. For the prince's parents, it was a nightmare. For them, it was another journey.'' Magnus's eyes glinted when retelling it, letting the happy moments flood his senses and wrap around his heart. He would never forget. That was what he promised himself a long time ago.
Madzie let out an amused sound, ''I imagine the parents weren't too happy about that.''
''Oh, you have no idea.''
''But I love how they did what felt right for them,'' Madzie said while settling more comfortably and preparing for sleep. ''They married and lived happily ever after in their underwater kingdom.''
Magnus pulled the covers more steadily around her and kissed her forehead. After he wished her goodnight, he retired to the living room, not revealing that wasn't how the story ended.