So...I know we have all been worried about him...But guess whose pov this chapter is from?!?!

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Magnus

    Flashes of light and color and sound had been dancing at Magnus's conscious for days now. Or was it weeks? He couldn't quite tell. Everything was still unclear but he had been fighting to surface from the unending dream keeping him from the waking world. He still could remember snippets. The sun, the pain in his head, the taste of brown dirt. Then the bed...

    He was in bed! In his own room. Torvald had been there. And Alice...He had to save Alice. She was in trouble.

    "The serum I gave him should take effect soon."

    A male voice. Unfamiliar.

    "He has been making great progress, but this will help lift the last of the fog from his mind. Full recovery will still take a bit longer, but I predict that he will truly wake today."

    He...the man meant him!

    "Thank you so much, Doctor."

    Torvald's voice followed by the closing of a door and the sound of footsteps. Magnus tried to open his eyes but they were too heavy. Blackness threatened to overtake him again.

    "Is there any improvement?"

    This time Magnus's mind focused more clearly. He knew the new voice well. That deep feminine voice.

    "No major change yet. He has been in and out of consciousness all day but the period's of lucidity are growing longer."

    Magnus tried to blink his eyes open. He could vaguely make out two shapes. One tall, one smaller and decidedly human.

    "Then you think he will wake soon?"

    "That is why I called for you. I wondered if your presence might..."

    "Alice." As his blurred vision focused Magnus saw her standing in the corner, coaxing the name from his lips. His brother's voice stopped in surprise.

"Oh, Alice!" Magnus called out again as her features became even clearer. He saw her hesitate, casting a quick glance at his brother. Torvald nodded his head.

    "Go to him, slave," he said. "Your Master is calling for you after all. I know you are relieved he is awake and well." A small hint of a genuine smile curled at the corner of his lip.

    "Thank you, Master," she replied, bowing her head to the man respectfully. But it was only a moment later that her poise dropped entirely as she practically ran to Magnus's side, eagerly taking the hand he held out to her.

    Magnus smiled, trying to ease her mind. There was so much fear in her eyes as she gazed at him, a look of true desperation. A pleading he had not seen since that fateful day when the authorities had arrested her. She was silently begging him to be alright with those intense grey eyes. He felt immense guilt in having caused such worry to his true friend.

    "Help me, Alice," Magnus said, forcing his own resolve. "I wish to stand."

    "You are certain you can?" she asked hesitantly, as if unable to believe he could truly have risen.

    Torvald was quickly at his side. "Allow me to aid her," he said. "We can't have you falling, brother."

    Magnus was grateful Torvald had not pushed the human woman aside. Perhaps the two had learned to co-exist during his prolonged illness. Or perhaps Torvald was merely humoring him, gladdened enough to see Magnus's recovery that he was willing to put up with the obsessive love he knew his brother held for an animal.

    The ground was unstable beneath Magnus's feet as he attempted to support the weight of his body on legs that had remained inactive for so long. He noticed that his arm was attached to an intravenous drip and wondered how long he must have been unconscious. But staring into Alice's concerned gaze he remembered the strength she's shown when she'd first come to his home. The courage with which she had overcome her own illness and suffering. Magnus knew he had no choice but to imitate her strength. To do everything he could to return to his animals and to his true friend. The woman who had been supporting him for so long. With Torvald and Alice's help, he was able to remain upright.

    "Perhaps you would like to sit?" Torvald suggested.

    Magnus nodded and together the three of them managed to make their way to the large armchair he kept by the fireplace in his room, wheeling his iv along with him. He collapsed into the chair eagerly, body too exhausted to even sit up properly. It was disconcerting to find himself so very weakened.

    "Do not worry, brother," Torvald said, clearly guessing at his thoughts. "The Doctors assure me you will make a full recovery. But you have been away from us for more than two months now. Your body will need time to revive. Be patient."

    Two months? Magnus thought with incredulity. How could it be?

    "When you are feeling up to it I will discuss with you all that has happened in your absence," Torvald continued. "Rest assured your estate and holdings have been well cared for and you have nothing to worry about."

    Nothing to worry about...Magnus's eyes went to Alice. She looked tired, worn down. The bags around her eyes were more pronounced, her pallor unusually pale. But it was her demeanor that concerned him most of all. Shoulders slightly hunched, head cast down to the ground. She looked the part of a slave. He had not seen the human in such a state since he had very first brought her to the estate and it concerned him greatly. Still, Magnus forced himself to turn his attention back to Torvald who stood watching him intently.

     "I am grateful for all you have done in protecting my holdings," he said, trying to fill the silence.

    "Is there anything you might need, Magnus?" his brother asked, clearly still concerned as well. "I'm certain Alice would be happy to fetch it for you."

    Magnus shook his head. "I'm fine," he answered. "Just trying to make sense of the world again." He could hear how scratchy his voice sounded. Not surprising. He hadn't apparently hadn't used it in weeks.

    "Perhaps you would like some water?" Torvald suggested.

    Magnus nodded and watched as Alice quickly went to fill a glass for him without being asked. As he took the cup from her hand their gazes locked. He could see the tears threatening to form in her eyes. The immense look of relief. He smiled at her, so grateful to see her face again. So grateful that she was all right, whatever she might have suffered in his absence.

    "A doctor will be by later to look you over," Torvald said as he drank. "The physicians I hired are renown and I'm certain they will have you back to yourself in no time."

    Magnus nodded and smiled as best he could at the man's words. He was indeed grateful for his brother's care, but he wished Torvald would leave him be for the time being. There was only one he wished to speak to.

    "Might you give Alice and I a few minutes to ourselves?" Magnus asked.

    Torvald frowned. "I'm not certain it is wise for you to be alone, brother," he answered. "You have only just awoken."

    "And I am feeling better by the minute," Magnus replied. It was true. His vision was already becoming less clouded, his thoughts becoming more clear. But he had to speak with Alice. He had to know with certainty that she was all right, and until he did that, nothing else would matter.

    "Leave us, Torvald," Magnus said more forcefully. "I'm more than capable of speaking to Alice without your supervision. I assure you that I will have her call for you if I should feel suddenly weakened."

    His brother cast Alice a somewhat nasty glare but he nodded his head nonetheless. Moments after the door closed he felt the arms of his beloved human wrap around his body as Alice leaned over the arm of the chair to hug him tightly, her small form holding him with so much strength and desperation.

    "Oh, Magnus," she said as he wrapped her in an embrace of his own as best he could. "I was so worried. I was almost convinced you would never wake."

    "I could never have left you," He said, stroking her soft hair gently as he pulled her closer. "I knew I had to recover for your sake."

    "And I am so grateful..."

    Magnus took her arms in his hands, holding her at a slight distance and eying her carefully. He saw the tears of relief streaming down her cheeks.

    "Torvald," he said. "Did he hurt you? Abuse you in any way?" He was desperate to confirm she was unharmed

    Alice shook her head.

    "And the others?"

    "We're fine, Magnus," she told him, forcing a small smile to her lips. "Your girls were smart enough to avoid his wrath.Please don't let it concern you."

    Magnus nodded, still not entirely certain he believed her. She was hiding things for his sake. He knew his brother too well to believe otherwise. He knew Alice too well.

    Magnus ran his hands along her arms, grateful to have her close but simultaneously checking for any damaged bones. He frowned as she pulled away with a slight wince.

    "A bruise," she assured him, "nothing more."

    Magnus had already seen the healing purple-hued skin on her face.He wondered how many injuries she was trying to hide.

    "I'm fine, really," she said seeing his concern. "I will be fine."

    Magnus's frown did not abate. "I was so worried for you."

    "For me?" she laughed, clearly trying to ease his fear. "You forget the Master I served before. Torvald may be harsh, but he is fair. In the end, your brother is not a bad man."

    "He hit you," Magnus said, feeling the anger building as the memory flashed in his mind. "I saw him do it. I will never forgive him!"

    "Of course you will," Alice answered sharply. "Don't be foolish, Magnus. I am a human slave. He had every right to do so. He is your brother. You have no choice but to forgive. Torvald has done everything to help you recover. He only stayed his hand against me much as he did out of care for you. He dropped everything to stay here and maintain your holdings for far longer than was necessary to fulfill any minimal obligation to you as family. Truly he deserves your thanks and not your scorn."

    Magnus didn't answer. There was an incredible irony in it all. This poor abused woman arguing in defense of a man who unjustly held so much disdain towards her. But Alice was impossibly forgiving. She had always been so towards him after all.

    Of course, he realized it was not really for Torvald's benefit that she made her plea for understanding. She didn't wish to hurt Magnus's relationship with his brother and so she was willing to put aside her own suffering for his sake. Always self-sacrificing. It was who she was.

    "I'm just so glad you are well," she said, the threat of tears welling again in her eyes. "I was so worried I..."

    Magnus grabbed her in a fierce embrace, pulling her into his lap with the force of the action, and she clung to him.

    "I would never leave you," he soothed, stroking her hair. "It was all I thought about. I had to recover. I couldn't leave you with him. I couldn't let you live the rest of your life like that."

    "Like a slave?" she asked with a small laugh.

    "You know that's not what you are to me," he said in frustration.

    "But it's what I am to the world," she answered. "And there's nothing either of us can do about it."

    She was right. He knew she was right. But it didn't make him feel any less anger at her treatment. It didn't resolve the helplessness he felt in knowing he had left her so vulnerable.

    "It doesn't matter now," she said, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "You are well and have many long years ahead of you."

    He nodded.

    "But Magnus, before you reach the end of your days..." she hesitated.

    "Yes?"

    "You should consider slaughtering all of your human stock. Or perhaps put it in your will that all will be compassionately destroyed upon your death."

    He stared at her in shock.

    "Death is far better than the lives they would likely face under another master. Torvald will sell any you bequeath to him. He has his own stock, and no interest in the pampered girls you keep. He will send them to feed lots or market them as breeders. If not, he will exert all his energy into breaking them. Best you simply end their suffering before it begins."

    Magnus nodded slowly. The concept disturbed him somehow. It was always his goal to allow his animals as long a life as possible after all. But perhaps she was correct...

     "I will consider it," he answered. "You, however, need not worry. I will never let you suffer so again. I may forgive my brother, but he will also hear from me of my displeasure at your treatment." Alice allowed him to wrap his arms around her, accepting Magus's comfort but shook her head.

    "Please let it go," she said. "For my sake. Besides, I only truly suffered imagining that I might have prevented this somehow," she said, a frown appearing on her face. "I will never again let you override my concern when it comes to your health," she chided.

    Magnus gave a small laugh, a sound more driven by relief then true mirth. He pulled her closer. "And I will heed your warnings better," he replied. "I swear it."

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So...YAY! Magnus appears to be well again! Anyone relived? I for one am happy to see him awake. What did you think of this little reunion with Alice? Of her request? Torvald's reaction to his brother's recovery? I think there is a lot to read into how all of them respond to Magnus's awakening. When i release bonus chapters of this section from Alice's mind maybe you will see even more;-) Next chapter will be up on Wednesday. It will be from Rachel's pov. I bet she's pretty happy to have Magnus back too! hehe.