AN: Hi everyone, thanks for checking this out. This is my first TMI story, and it's set in an alternate universe, based off the dream Clary had in Edom. The minute I read Clary's dream in COHF I thought what an excellent fanfic prompt it was. Then I finished COHF and I was surprised with how happy I was with the way it turned out, but I just felt kind of empty and lost because it was over, and I wasn't ready to let go. So I decided to explore my ideas for a story based off Clary's dream. It's going to be a multi chapter, and will have be more relationship focused than on fighting and politics, but there will definitely be a noticable presence of the latter two. I'm sure there will be other stories based on Clary's dream, but I wanted to share mine.

There's a more information at the bottom with more details about this fic, should you like to read it at the end of the chapter :) Also, just wanted to give credit to Lea (from the mortalinstruments . org) who's fan art I edited as the picture for this story.

The Roads Not Travelled

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." – William Shakespeare

Chapter 1

2007

Fifteen year old Clary Morgenstern was sitting in class in the Academy in Alicante, staring out of the window, aimlessly doodling on her notepad, and not listening to what her instructor was saying.

Clary was a young Shadowhunter, a member of the Nephilim race, half human, half angel, created by the angel Raziel to defend the world from demons. She lived in their home country of Idris, and was thus required to attend classes at the Academy, and had done so since she was old enough to. Usually Clary thrived off her lessons, enjoying them and excelling at everything she worked at, but today they were covering significant, recent events in the history of the Nephilim – specifically the day that Valentine Morgenstern stopped Hodge Starkweather from succeeding in stealing The Mortal Cup, but dying in the process. Valentine was Clary's father.

Clary heard the words "Valentine died a hero," and a small smile graced her lips. She was only a baby when her father died and had no memories of him, but at least his memory was held in high esteem by the Nephilim.

Clary's mother, Jocelyn, had remarried when Clary was only a toddler, and her second husband, Lucian Graymark, or Luke as he preferred, had become the only father she, and her older brother, Jonathan, had ever known.

At the end of the day's classes she and her brother Jonathan left together, headed to the stables, saddled their horses, and headed for their home, the Fairchild Manor. It was about an hour's ride from Alicante, the capital and only city of Idris. They rode everywhere in Idris, for the protective wards around the country interfered with the modern conveniences of cars, as well as cell phones. When they needed to quickly travel a long distance, say to another country, a Portal was used. There were specific locations that had permanent Portals in place, which were carefully maintained by those with knowledge of them. Warlocks could be hired to create temporary Portals when need be as well.

Clary's mother, Jocelyn, had been a Fairchild before she had married Valentine, and following his death they had moved from the Morgenstern Manor back to her childhood home, the Fairchild Manor. Jocelyn could not bear to live any longer in the house that was filled with the memories of her marriage to Valentine.

Clary, dressed in black Gear, with her sword, Heosphoros, (a Morgenstern family sword) at her side in its sheath on her hip, looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling truly happy. She loved riding, she felt most free when she rode, with the wind whipping her long, red hair. It was naturally unruly, so the wind made little difference to its state. The weather was beautiful, the sky a clear blue and the sun shining bright and warm. It was an ideal day in late August, as so often occurred in Idris. Idris was a small country in Europe, located between France and Germany, and was protected by wards and hidden from the human population (mundanes) by glamours. They rarely experienced bad weather over the summer months, which was great in most respects, but it was occasionally a drawback when it caused the young Shadowhunters studying at the Academy to become restless. Shadowhunters trained the whole year around (until they were 18 and fully fledged Shadowhunters), but in the summer they did usually get one week off of each of the three months.

Clary and Jonathan passed the empty Wayland Manor – Michael Wayland, his wife and son were looking after the York Institute for the time being – and ten minutes later they were at the Fairchild Manor where they set to stabling their horses.

"Any plans of making friends with any of the other Shadowhunters our age, sister?" Jonathan asked, a little edge to his voice. He loved his sister, but he was concerned about some of her habits.

"No, brother," Clary retorted. "I'm more than happy to let you bask in the glory that is being a child of Valentine Morgenstern. No matter how many times you ask me, I'm still going to say the same thing. I'm happy with my own company, my lessons and riding, plus, there's little Valentina now."

"I get that, sort of, but the others don't," Jonathan replied.

"So, who was it this time, pestering you about your strange, nerdy, socially delayed little sister?" Clary asked with a roll of her eyes.

"Jace Herondale," Jonathan answered, his brow furrowed.

Clary's cheeks flushed a hot red, unbidden, and certainly unexpectedly. Jace was adored by all Nephilim girls, and many Downworlders, aged anywhere from 25 to 10. Clary had never really paid too much attention to Jace, except to admire his superior skills as a warrior, for he was very gifted. Most girls however paid attention to Jace's golden, luminous eyes, his messy golden hair and his chiselled features.

"I'm surprised Jace remembered you had a younger sister," Clary retorted, after carefully returning her features to her normal state of composure.

Jonathan gave her a rueful grin and said, "Well, he actually said to me, 'Do you know who that tiny redhead is? She never says anything so I have never bothered to find out about her.'"

"That's Jace, arrogant and self-absorbed," Clary muttered. "I get that I haven't really connected with anyone, but we've moved in the same circles since we were born, and I am your sister, and Valentine's daughter."

"Well, Jace is Jace," Jonathan said dismissively. "Everyone else knows who you are, by name at least, so don't worry too much. But maybe you could think about making some friends. Isabelle Lightwood is your age, you know."

"Yes I do know, and I also know that you're completely infatuated with her," Clary teased. "I'm sure you'd love it if I became friends with her, and lay some ground work for you. Isn't saying, 'I'm Valentine's son' enough to get all the girls swooning for you?"

"Not Isabelle," Jonathan muttered. "She's practically desensitised to that kind of thing, growing up with Jace and all. Plus, she knows how beautiful she is, which doesn't make it any easier. Anyway, I think you might get along, once you got past how different you both are. You know it was her who told Jace who you were? She smacked him on the side of the head and said, 'Idiot, that's Clary Morgenstern, Jonathan's sister. She's the best girl Shadowhunter our age, besides me, which you might have noticed if you saw anything but the girls who threw themselves at you.' I tell you Clary, I think I saw a pensive look cross Jace's face for a moment. I wish I'd taken a picture for proof."

"I hope that didn't adversely affect his reputation," Clary joked. "Well, I think we've spent enough time discussing the social life I do not have and not particularly interested in. I'm done here, and I'm going to find Mom."

"I'll be in shortly," Jonathan told her. "I just need to put the tack away."

Clary headed from the stable and into the manor, dropping her bag by the front door where she'd collect it from later, right after her mom chastised her for leaving it there, as was a daily occurrence. The family were very well off, but Jocelyn liked to make her children take care of their own things, including their horses. Times were a little different too, had they lived in the Victorian era then they would have had many servants, but as it was, in the modern era they lived in, servants weren't used a lot by Shadowhunters anymore. Usually each family employed a mundane or two with The Sight to help out on their estates in Idris. Some of the Institutes also employed help as well.

Clary headed instinctively for the family room, knowing her mother liked to sit there, taking advantage of the light from the afternoon sun. Jocelyn had an artistic eye and liked to indulge in painting, when her duties as a mother, wife and Shadowhunter, permitted it.

"Hi Mom," Clary said, catching sight of her mother, a sketchpad in hand.

Clary resembled her mother greatly, they shared the same curly red hair, green eyes and fair skin. Her mother was tall and willowy, with feminine curves, whereas Clary was only just 5 feet and still had a girlish figure, much to her chagrin. When people told her she looked like her mother she usually translated it to, 'like your mother, but only pretty, in a childlike way, not beautiful.'

In the same way, Jonathan looked much like their father Valentine, he was tall and muscular, with the same fair hair, such a light blond that it was almost white, but he too had Jocelyn's green eyes. It was hard to say just yet who little Valentina resembled most, but at two she definitely had her mother's curly red hair, and pretty blue eyes, the same colour as Luke's.

"Hi darling, how was your day?" Jocelyn said, setting her drawing down and turning her attention to her daughter.

"Pretty standard," Clary replied. "Archery and knife throwing practice, Ancient Greek and Latin, then some Modern History to finish off. Oh, and Jonathan got asked again why I'm a loner."

"Very standard," Jocelyn allowed with a smile. "Who was it this time?"

"Oddly enough, Jace Herondale," Clary said thoughtfully. "He actually asked Jonathan if he knew who I was. I mean, I get that I don't talk to too many people, but I at least thought everyone knew who I was. But I guess that's Jace, very self involved."

"Don't take it to heart, it's just who Jace is," Jocelyn said soothingly.

"That's what Jon said too," Clary replied. "What I want to know is why he is that way."

"You could ask him," Jocelyn suggested, half seriously, half teasingly. "There, Val's just woken up from her nap. Do you want to get her up with me?"

Clary quickly agreed and they headed upstairs to the nursery to fetch her baby sister. Valentina was only two, and Clary and Jonathan's half sister. Long after their mother married Lucian Graymark they had eventually had a child, Valentina, named after Valentine, to honour the fallen hero, father and friend. He had been Luke's parabatai, as well as Jocelyn's husband.

"I don't actually want to get to know Jace, I just wanted to know if you knew why he is they way he is," Clary told her mother as they prepared a snack for themselves and Val. "The way you spoke about him, it's almost as if you understood something about him."

"Well, you know, when your father and I had a circle of friends, including Luke, the Lightwoods, Penhallows, and the Herondales as well," Jocelyn began. "Before Jace was born, his father, Stephen, had been sent out to investigate a message about a rogue pack of werewolves, in Brocelind Forest. Stephen was killed, and it broke Celine's heart, Stephen was her whole world. Still, she tried to struggle on, with the aid of her Imogen and Marcus, Stephen's parents, but right after Jace's birth Marcus was killed in a demon attack and Imogen moved to the London Institute. There were too many painful memories in the Herondale Manor for her. Celine died only a week or so later, apparently of a broken heart."

"Oh, that's terrible," Clary said, her eyes filled with compassion. She felt things very deeply, and could empathise with losing a parent at a young age. "Imogen wouldn't care for Jace, even after his mother died?"

"No, she just couldn't bear to. The Herondale Manor has been closed and empty since then. Imogen threw herself into eradicating the world from the evil that killed her husband and son, far away from where the memories of them could haunt her. The Lightwoods took Jace in, it had been the wish of Celine before she died," Jocelyn explained. "So, he grew up with Alec, Isabelle, and their little brother Max. I think Jace sees his grandmother occasionally, but they're not close, both are too focused on protecting themselves from being hurt by loving, I think."

"Mom, that's so awful," Clary said sadly. "That would mess any kid up."

"Well, Jace was raised in a happy family, and the Lightwoods love him," Jocelyn replied. "I can't speak for Jace, I don't exactly know him, but I'm sure that history impacts him one way, or another. The Herondales are also historically a proud family of great warriors, so there's that too."

"See Mom, this is why I prefer riding and drawing to people, they're just so complicated," Clary declared.

"But there's so much you can enjoy from people, having friends, getting to know people, sharing and spending time together. We live risky lives as Shadowhunters, and life is too short to avoid people because you might get hurt somewhere along the way," Jocelyn said gently. "Think about that, my Clary."

"I will," Clary said seriously, looking thoughtful. "Where's Luke today?"

"He's at the Los Angeles Institute, Andrew Blackthorn requested a meeting with a member of The Clave to discuss some issues that had arisen," Jocelyn replied. "He'll be home tonight or tomorrow."

"Okay, well, I think I'll go to my room, maybe read or draw," Clary decided. "I'll take Jon a snack too, I heard him come in and head straight for his room a little while ago."

Once settled in her room Clary grabbed her sketch book and began to draw aimlessly, her pencil strokes forming whatever image came across her mind. Today it was her horse, Aura, a bay mare, who she'd been riding since she was twelve. Traditionally, the Fairchilds named their horses after mythological gods, and Aura was named for the goddess of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning. Clary often drew Aura, for she was very fond of her horse, and enjoyed drawing or painting her in the different environments of Idris.

Also in her sketch books where various runes from The Gray Book, drawn almost unbidden, as Clary's subconscious processed the lesson of the day, or when she was thinking particularly about the uses of certain runes. There were also runes not in The Gray book, runes Clary had never learned, but somehow she knew what they meant and they way they were supposed to look when she drew them. Clary had never Marked herself with any of the runes she had drawn that weren't from The Gray Book, but part of her was curious to know if they'd work. She had also thought of asking many times if anyone else had seen the 'new runes' before, but didn't want to appear crazy, in case her runes were actually just the doodlings of a child.

Clary set her sketch pad down and flopped down on her bed, looking over at the picture on her dresser. The frame was engraved with her name and date of birth, and in it was a picture of her as a baby, with both her parents, not long before Valentine died.

Clarissa Adele Seraphina Morgenstern – August 1991

Her mother had chosen Clarissa, and Adele and Seraphina were for both of her grandmothers, Adele Fairchild and Seraphina Morgenstern, both of whom Clary had never known.

As it was late August, Clary was about to turn sixteen. Her mother and Luke had of course offered to throw her a party, but as usual, she had refused, preferring to just spend time with her family, and her Aunt Madeleine, her mother's closest friend from childhood. Sometimes her Aunt Amatis, Luke's unmarried sister was able to make it as well, but she often couldn't as her duties at the New York Institute kept her busy. Amatis had never married, and Clary had picked up over the years that there was some sad love story surrounding her, but had never asked, assuming that if she was supposed to know she'd be told.

Some time later, as Clary was reading Great Expectations Jocelyn called, "Jonathan, Clary, dinner!"

Jonathan and Clary headed out of their rooms at a great pace, running into each other in the hall, and racing lightly down the stairs together. They had very healthy appetites, a product of their training in combination with the fact that they were teenagers.

"Isabelle Lightwood is having a party on Saturday night Mom," Jonathan announced. "So I won't be home for dinner, or possibly breakfast."

"Jonathan," Jocelyn began, her tone gently admonishing. "I know you'll be eighteen next year, and you have a lot of freedom, but I'm still your mother, so I'd appreciate it if you'd at least do me the courtesy of pretending to ask for permission."

"Yes Mom, sorry Mom," Jonathan said sheepishly.

"Are you going too, Clary?" Jocelyn asked hopefully.

Clary threw both her mother and Jonathan a withering look.

"No I'm not, I'm not invited," she said, her bored tone implying she'd said the same many times before.

"You're my sister, of course you're invited," Jonathan said airily.

"I'm sure you're welcome," Jocelyn added.

"Well, I haven't been invited, and you know I'd rather be here anyway," Clary said stubbornly.

Jonathan and Jocelyn shared an eloquent look.

"Just think about it," Jocelyn said gently. "Remember what we talked about."

"Same goes here," Jonathan added. "You know my views, Clary."

Clary gave them both a long suffering look, but she did at least mentally decide to think it over. She had been a little intrigued with what both her mother and brother had shared with her that day. Something about Jace Herondale had piqued her interest, and maybe there were other people with interesting stories to be learned too.

AN: Thanks for reading! I'd love to know what you think :) Please reveiw :)

Note: I will spell quite a lot of things out over the first few chapters, stuff that would be assumed knowledge for those who have read TMI and TID, but this story is essentially meant to stand alone, as is normal for an AU. Other information will be added because it does differ from TMI, again, because it is AU. I hope it's not too repetitive, or that there's not too much at once. I've researched as much as I can to find out specifics regarding Idris, but as the series doesn't focus much on their homeland, I've had to improvise a bit with some information. I've also changed some things to make it fit in better with my universe. But the basis of everything is still the same as the Shadow World of The Shadowhunter Chronicles.