I know, I know, we've pretty much established that Tessa won't be a big part of CoHF. BUT, I couldn't get this out of my head sooo…yeah. Have a drabble. Reviews are lovely!


Isabelle couldn't breathe. Jace was on the ground, Sebastian standing over him with a blade in his hand. It was all but over. They'd lost. Clary was tearing across the grass, but she'd never get to Jace in time. Izzy closed her eyes…and then…

"Stop."

The word was said with quiet authority. Calm, commanding. Izzy's eyes flew open to see a girl, no older than twenty, standing between Jace and Sebastian. Clary reached Jace, collapsing at his side.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Sebastian said, undeterred. The girl did not flinch, but did not respond either. "Well?" said Sebastian, a bit more harshly.

"Tessa," the girl said simply. "Gray."

"The warlock…" Sebastian said. Isabelle couldn't see well across the distance, but the girl had no obvious warlock's mark.

"That's right." Her posture was relaxed enough, though her hands were tense. Beside Isabelle, Magnus frowned and started forward.

"Well, why don't you tell this crowd the truth, then?" called Sebastian, gesturing to the crowd as if he was putting on a grand show.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"I know that's not your full name, Tessa. I've heard of you – and I didn't understand you to be a liar."

Suddenly Magnus was moving across the ground towards Tessa, a Silent Brother at his heels. Clary and Jace were still crouched behind Tessa, looking shocked.

Tessa hesitated.

"Go on. Or I'll kill you as well as them."

"Fine," said Tessa, looking Sebastian straight in the eyes. "You want to play games. I'll go along. My name is Tessa. Tessa Herondale."

Jace's face registered shock, even through his pain. Everyone's did, really. But Sebastian was smiling, and raising his blade once again. He'd never meant to let anyone live – that much was now obvious. But then Magnus and the Silent Brother – Jeremiah? No: Zachariah - reached Tessa and stood on either side of her.

"Any last words, warlock?"

She looked Sebastian in the eye, and Isabelle wondered if anyone had ever stood up to Sebastian like that. Probably not.

"I suppose if I'm going to die," said Tessa, "I'd want it to be because I was defending someone I loved."

Sebastian grinned maniacally and raised his blade. Tessa's eyes fluttered closed. Isabelle wondered if she was the only one who noticed Tessa grab the hand of the Silent Brother.

Sebastian's blade was raised, then came down,

Down,

Down,

And then nothing but his scream as he fell to the ground, his legs having been swept out from under him by none other than Jace Herondale.

The girl let out a cry of relief and her legs gave out. The Silent Brother caught her and gently lowered her to the ground, and he and Magnus leaned over her.

Suddenly Jace was up and Sebastian was up and hope was not yet lost.