Chapter Text
Laughter filled the halls as socked feet ran about, two princes up far past their bedtimes.
“Wilburrrrrr do the magic pleaseeeee” Tommy whined grabbing his brothers arm and shaking it, “you know what mother and father say about doing magic.” Wilbur looked at his younger brother as he pouted.
“oh come on, just do it anyway, for me?” Tommy grinned up at his brother knowing he’d cave, Wilbur loved him to much to not say yes. The elder rolled his eyes making a small motion with his hand.
Tommy didn’t notice anything changing until he slowly started slipping away from his brother, the floor of the hallway covered in a thin layer of ice.
Tommy yelped as Wilbur grabbed his upper arms so he wouldn’t fall at hit is head “Oh yeah that’s what I’m talking about!” Tommy celebrated arms flinging into the air with enough momentum for him to slip off his feet, knocking him and his older brother to the ground, laughter bubbling out of his chest.
Wilbur formed a small snowball in his hands and hurled it at Tommy’s head in retaliation, Tommy squawked at the cold powder now in his face and hair, and glared. “That’s not fair. I don’t even have ammo.”
With another flick of his hand a buckets worth of snow appeared over Tommy’s head, most of it landing in his hair and the floor surrounding him
“that works!” Tommy laughed ignoring the blatant attack from his brother knowing that now that he has snow, he’ll get him back tenfold. Forming the biggest snowball he can in his hands and tossing it right in his brother’s face.
An all out brawl broke out from there, the boys slipping and sliding about the hall, throwing snow and tackling each other. Once most of the snow had been thrown or melted Wilbur decided it was time to go back to his buzzkill self apparently. “Okay, time for bed”
“What? No, time for more magic, please and thank you.” Tommy complained being more polite than normal in hopes his brother will continue to play. “Tommy you know I’m not supposed to even be doing this.” Wilbur reminded him, absentmindedly building a small snowman like the one they had made a few nights prior before curling up on himself like their parents were already out here scolding him.
Tommy didn’t understand why their parents were so strict with Wilbur’s magic, why they thought it was a bad thing. Tommy grabbed Wilbur’s hands and looked at him with the most serious expression he could muster “but your magic is the most beautiful, wonderful, perfectful, thing in the world!”
Wilbur looked up at him smiling a bit “you really think so?” Tommy nodded sincerely, How could Tommy not think so? He had never been more envious of his amazing, stupid, magical big brother. Wilbur sighed and then smiled “okay, one more, then bed.” Tommy clapped his hands with excitement “what do you want?”
“Hmm let’s do-“ just as he was going to answer, the large doors to the hall opened, revealing the large figure of their father, face filled with frustration.
“Father, i am so sorry. I shouldn’t have-“ Wilbur started standing up quickly trying to explain. “Quiet.” Their father commanded,”i have had just about enough of you two for the night.”
“Wait! It wasn’t his fault, i asked him to do it.” Tommy confessed, placing himself between Wilbur and their father. he couldn’t let Wilbur take the blame for this, their parents were already so hard on him. “Wilbur is older, he should know better.” Father says anger creeping over his features, “now Tommy go to bed. I will speak to you about this behavior tomorrow.”
Now that was something Tommy would not be doing. He knew what would happen if he left Wilbur alone with his father and he refused to leave. “No.” Tommy said putting his arms out to block his older brother from his father.
“Are you disobeying me?” His father growled, grabbing one of Tommy’s arms and pulling him towards him, raising his other hand and-
“NO!” Wilbur cried out.
A wall of ice appeared as pain shot through Tommy’s head, falling to the ground.
Wilbur’s hands shook as they were outstretched in front of him, what did you do what did you do WHAT DID YOU DO- “TOMMY” he cried out, rushing forward but before he could reach his brother a large arm knocked him away “you monster.” Father hissed “stay back before you do even more damage, elise!” Father called out picking Tommy off the ground as mother rushed in. “Oh no” mother gasped looking first to her husband and youngest son and then to her oldest “did you do this? We told you magic is forbidden.” Wilbur couldn’t even respond to her words, the voices in his head chanting monster monster monster “we need to get him to the people of the forest, They can help him” his mother said brushing the hair out of Tommy’s eyes, the hair that was slowly turning white.
———
Wilbur couldn’t even remember how they got there it was like he blinked and was on the back of his mothers horse on there way into the forest. Tears pricked his eyes and he tried to recall how to breathe, every inhale felt like he was dying. He shouldn’t even be allowed to breathe, not when his precious brother was dying at his hands.
Soon they came to a clearing, a strange formation of stone surrounded them. Wilbur was startled out of his panic by the sound of a crow flying above them, calling out.
Deep in the trees there was a slight rustle and if Wilbur squinted he could see small specks of light in the distance, those lights slowly got bigger now resembling eyes that seemed to stare right into Wilbur’s soul.
Then the eyes were all around. A menacing chant coming up out of the trees as the crows started to circle them.
“Please, our son is hurt. We need your help.” His mother pleaded, as one on the pairs of eyes emerged from the shadows. The man had icy blue eyes and chin length blonde hair that had various feathers and stones woven into braids around his head, there was a small emerald on a string hanging from his neck and he wore a mossy cloak covered in crows feathers and leaves, he looked like a man raised by nature and then crowned its king.
The man approached the king and Tommy “this is a magic strike” he said running a hand over Tommy’s forehead “I didn’t mean to!” Wilbur confessed knowing he would have to eventually.
The man turned to Wilbur, there was a surprising amount of compassion in his eyes. “Born with the powers or cursed?” He asked. “Born and they are getting stronger.” His mother replied a look of almost shame coming over her. The man turned back to Tommy, “you are lucky it wasn’t his heart. The heart is not so easily changed but a head may be persuaded.” He said reaching his arms out to take Tommy in his arms.
“Do what you must.” Father said handing Tommy to the man.
“I suggest removing all magic, even memories of magic, just to be safe.” As he said those words the emerald on his necklace began to glow, he rubbed his thumb over Tommy’s head as if he was erasing something on a slate. Once he was finished he handed Tommy back to their parents reassuring “he will be okay.” Then he turned to Wilbur and crouched down to his level, taking his cheek in his hand “but don’t worry little snow, I left the fun.”
He smiled at Wilbur and then took the boys hands in his own, “so he won’t remember I have powers?” Wilbur’s voice trembled, as the man shook his head no. “Little prince, from now on your power will only grow.” Wilbur’s eyes widened as the man continued to explain “ there is beauty in it, But also great danger. You must learn to control it or fear will be your enemy.”
“We won’t let that happen.” Father’s voice cut through, “we will close the gates, we will reduce the staff, we will limit his contact with the outside world and keep his powers hidden from everyone, including Tommy.” Father turned to him “you will learn to control it.”
Wilbur knew in his heart that it wasn’t a question, it was a command.