I can love a block of wood (septiplier nutcracker AU)

Chapter 18

"Let's not find out yet." Tyler said, standing and putting a hand on the wooden prince's shoulder. It didn't help and Mark moved away from him, still pacing across the floor.

"What of they still went on? Maybe they are still going into town?" Ethan suggested, making Mark stop and raise his head.

"I'm going after them."

"Wait." Tyler told him, but he wasn't listening. He was walking towards the sleigh to go down, but it already was down there. In fact it was coming back up, so he stepped back. Lorie and Christa came up first. Mark made sure they were alright before sending them off. Rose was next but no Jack.

"He is in his room. He needed to think." She told him without him asking. He nodded as she walked by. He went down in the sleigh without bothering to tell anyone where he was going. He figured rose already had a guess and would tell the others. He looked at passing ornaments and toys, getting bows and curtsies as he went down like he always did. He sunk back in the seat, to worried to be thinking about his old life. When he got down to the bottom, he slowly climbed out and started to Jack's room, being careful to not make loud steps. The door was open so Mark went in slowly.

"hey Jackaboy..." He tried to sound cheerful. Jack was sitting in the overstuffed chair, thinking.

"It was too easy..."

"What was?"

"Felix ran, and he could have kept fighting. He had enough leverage... but he didn't. He ran."

"He is a coward, Jack. Of course he ran."

"It's not that... I can feel it..." Mark sat on the bed as he watched him.

"What do you think it was?"

"There was a trap in all that somewhere... I know it..." He put his elbows on his knees.

"You really think so?" Jack gave him a sarcastic look which made him raise his hands. "I'm just asking."

"Yes. I really think so." Jack leaned back into the chair. "There has to be sonething. A spy or something. I probably sound crazy."

"No, you don't sound crazy. Your listening to your gut. Let's go down and see if we can figure something out." Mark stood and offered his hand, smiling a bit. Jack looked at it for a moment before accepting it and standing. They both walked downstairs without saying anything, then Jack realised he didn't have his crutch.

"You don't have your crutch?"

"Ethan finally gave me the ok not to use it."

"How are you walking?"

"I have no idea." He just smiled at him as they stood at the door.

"I'm sorry I didn't do better."

"Don't apologize. It's ok, really." Jack sighed and hung his head, rubbing his neck. Mark put a hand under his chin and had him look up. "Keep your head up, Kay?" Jack turned red and nodded. "Good. Let's go." Mark put a hand on his lower back as he lead him in. Something seemed off as they walked. It was quiet, too quiet.

"Mark..." Jack said in worry.

"I hear it too... go hide." Mark took his sword back, but Jack caught his wrist. The Prince looked back at him.

"Be safe, please." He smiled softly at him and nodded.

"I will, now go hide." Jack ran and did as he was told, getting onto the couch and hiding behind a pillow that was propped just right. Mark slowly walked forward on guard. He didn't call out for anyone but the quiet made his wooden steps sound loud. He didn't need to call out for anyone to know he was there. He paused a foot from the tree. He scanned the area in silence before he heard the tree rustle a bit. He looked up but didn't see anyone. He frowned as he continued to scan the tree branches. Suddenly there was a tell from above.

"Your highness, behind you!" Mark quickly turned around with his sword up and just barely made it in time to block the sword that was coming down to kill him. Metal clanged and Mark looked at the person trying to kill him. Felix and Mark met eyes for a split second before Mark pushed him away. After a moment of tense silence Felix charged at him and swung his sword. Mark dodged and tried to stab him in his side. Felix elbowed him in the head so he stumbled, then quickly regained his composure.

"You were waiting for me?" Mark asked him. The man smirked.

"Actually i was waiting for Jack, but finding you was even better." Felix tried to swipe at him but the prince stepped back and lifted his sword, blocking the attack.

"He knew something was wrong when you ran."

"Smart man, much smarter than you."

"I wouldn't be surprised." The wizard tried once again to cut him but it was dodged, mark moving to the right and trying to stab his arm. He missed which gave Felix a chance to cut the side of his wrist. Mark was shocked by the fact that the cut started to bleed. "What...?" He almost missed the next attack and managed to dodge to the left just in time, but not without it clipping his side.

"Well, i guess i just couldn't completely change you back to wood." Mark did step dodges backwards toward the tree to dodge attacks. At some point Mark had his back to the trunk. Felix raised the sword to his neck. "Call him out." Mark kept his mouth shut as he hit the blade away with his sword and tried to stab his gut. His writs was caught and twisted, making him drop the sword. He was turned, his arm pinned behind his back as he was forced against the tree. "Call for jack."

"No."

"If you don't, i will give the signal and they will kill each person up there unless you call for jack."

"He won't come out."

"Try." Mark hesitated, and Felix raised his hand to give the signal.

"Jack, come on out! It's fine!"