Before I begin, yes you guys have every right to hate me for not updating. I was actually thinking of deleting the story altogether but I decided to try and see it through. So if any of you are still hanging around, thank you and I'm sorry for taking so long! I will try to be more consistent with my updating.
Thank you to those who read and/or reviewed on my last Chapter. Also, thank you Guest for pointing my error in the second chapter.
Hope you enjoy!
Clary prepared herself for the shouting, for the reasoning on why going to see the Seelie Queen was a bad idea. She, instead, was met with complete silence from her companions, and that terrified her even more. Alec gaped between her and Isabelle with a look of horror. Simon stood near the window with his mouth slightly open forming a small O, and Jace, pale-faced stared at Clary like she had two heads. It was so quiet, Clary was pretty sure she could hear her own nervous heartbeat.
Simon was the first to break the silence, "Even I know that is a terrible idea, and I still have trouble remembering my own name." He stated.
"Do you remember the times you went into the Faerie court?" Alec asked. His horrified looked was gone, replaced with a disapproving frown.
Clary saw Simon reach to scratch the back of his neck in clear discomfort. His memory had still not fully returned. Remembering specific events still took a while. He explained that when a topic comes up he can't quite remember, a feeling usually passes over him. When he first saw Clary again, he felt a wave of love, not intimate, not the way he felt when he saw Isabelle. When he first came back to the institute, he had a variety of feelings. Some, more pleasant than others. Right now, discussing the Queen, he felt nothing but hatred and even a little fear.
"Not really. I remember the way I felt when I was there, and I still stand by my statement that this is a terrible idea." Simon replied.
"For once I agree with the Shadowhunter." Jace finally pitched in. His cool façade was back, and Clary could see that his Nephilim instincts had taken over. She could see the gears turning in his head, calculating the next step, the best plan.
"'Shadowhunter?'" Simon asked.
Jace shrugged. "Just trying it out. You keep changing species on me. I have no idea what to call you now."
Simon just glanced at him. "How about Simon?" His voice, while a bit mocking, showed no anger. It seems he's finally getting used to Jace's comments.
Isabelle cut in before Jace could retort. "Yes, we all know she is a terrible person. But she seems to be the only lead we have right now, so I think its best we follow it." She had been so quiet that Clary forgot she was there.
"Izzy", Alec started, "You know what she did. How she allied herself with Sebastian. Not to mention the Cold Peace. We would be breaking laws. We could have our marks stripped, forced into exiled. Maybe even killed. There is no way we can even consider it."
"Not if we don't get caught." Offered Clary. "Not to mention we practically saved the entire Nephilim race, so they have to be a little lenient with us."
Alec's horrified looked returned. His gaze went to his parabatai, begging for some backup. But Jace's mind was somewhere else. He spoke, without really looking at them. Like it was just him in the room and he was thinking out loud. "Let's say for example, we do go. The only way to properly meet with the Queen is to be invited or there has to be someone waiting for us at the entrance. I doubt she will appreciate us showing up again unannounced. Not to mention she will probably still hate us for killing her knight and threatening her." His gaze flicked to Alec and then back to Clary.
"But what if we can send a message somehow?" She asked. "The Queen is known for always keeping an eye on things. Perhaps we can draw her attention and request an audience."
Isabelle shrugged. "It can't hurt to try." She looked back her brother, stepping toward him carefully. "Alec, if there is a threat, if a danger like Sebastian is approaching, we should be there to face it, and hopefully stop it. We've been through enough wars, enough deaths. Peace is not a luxury we have when being a Shadowhunter, but being a Shadowhunter also means facing those dangerous head on and protecting our own. If there is a threat, I don't want to be taken by surprise. We need to know what is going on and what we're dealing with." She stated softly.
Alec grabbed a strand of her hair and pulled at it gently. "Regardless if I say no, you're still going to go anyway aren't you?"
Isabelle smiled brightly like she had already won the argument, which Clary guessed she already did.
"Duh." She stated. "But it would be nice to have backup."
Alec's gaze slid to Jace. Jace smiled his arrogant smile and looked to Simon. Simon threw his hands up in exasperation. "Why do we always do the exact opposite of what were supposed to do?" he asked.
"Come on Simon." Jace said mockingly. "You're not a vampire anymore. Live a little."
They all waited until night and made their way to the pond that held the entrance into the Faerie courts. The had all agreed that the best way to contact the Queen was to send a message through the door in and hope some faerie stumbles across it. Clary knew it wasn't the most thought out plan, but at least it was something.
The Lightwoods as well as Jocelyn and Luke thought the group had just went out to get food. Maryse, knowing of the disappearances and Brother Enoch's visions, made sure they all had at least one weapon on them and uttered words of caution as they were leaving.
They left the institute in their regular clothing but the minute they were out of sight, they stripped their garments to reveal their tough Shadowhunter gear underneath. Alec and Jace went into a bush to the left of them near the gate of the institute and retrieved weapons. Clary looked at Jace and raised her eyebrows. Jace just shrugged. "You never know," was all he said. Alec hung his bow across his back, Isabelle's whip was secured tightly around her arm as she handed extra daggers to Simon. He took them and strapped them into his weapon belt. A sight Clary was still not used too. She greatly took a short-sword from Jace and strapped it to her back as well as a few seraph blades she fastened around her thighs. They were not expecting a fight but like Maryse pointed out, it couldn't hurt to be prepared.
Once finished, they set out to the park. Upon nearing the lake, Jace halted abruptly, throwing his fist up in a silent command. Everyone halted in their tracks and looked towards the body of water. It took Clary a minute before she noticed the figure standing there, watching the group with calculating eyes. Her first initial notice was that the figured looked almost invisible. The only thing obvious feature was its eyes; honey colored. Glowing like embers that have yet to die down. Each of them either grabbed for their weapons or laid their hands on them, being able to easily grab them if need be. They moved as a unit, taking steps like they were on being. Clary wondered when that started happening. Perhaps it was just a Shadowhunter trait. An instinct more than training.
Moving closer she realized the figure was a female, and she was not invisible at all, but rather her skin was as dark and navy as the pond, making her blend into the landscape. Her hair was a dark brown, so dark it almost looked black. She wore a black, loose dress. It was unmoving, even though Clary could clearly feel the breeze around them, like the wind passed around the woman instead, as to not disrupt her beauty. Her appearance and clothing were so dark, maybe she meant to try and blend into the night. Her ears were clearly pointed. Faerie Clary thought, and it didn't take her long to guess why she was there.
"Nephilim." She greeted. Her voice was so gentle that Clary thought she hadn't spoken at all. "I am Eolande. Sent by the Queen to come retrieve you. She has been expecting you."
"Of course she has." Mumbled Alec.
Eolande only glanced at him with disdain, like he was no more than a bug that she's swatted at that still keeps following her around. "This way." She said as she stepped back into the pond and disappeared underneath the dark surface and the moons reflection without so much as a ripple in the water.
Isabelle looked at Jace through uncertain eyes. "Let's hope you can still charm the Queen."
Jace straightened his back, threw on his lazy smile and said, "Izzy, such low faith you have in me. My charm never fails." Then he stepped forward into the water and vanishing. The others looked at each other for just a second, then followed after him.
Clary hated going through the pond entrance. She always emerged soaking, with her hair plastered to her face. She was sure she resembled a wet dog. She looked around and saw the others, soaking, but fine. Eolande, of course completely dry wasted no time and started walking towards the throne room.
Clary prepared herself. She did not know what type of mood the Queen would be in today. Or the type that she would be in when she saw the group of Nephilim's. She knew that she would get a sense when she saw the Queens thrown room. It often changed depending on her moods.
When they entered through a curtain like moss, it took her eyes a minute to adjust to the glowing of the room. Or more so the glowing of the snow that covered the floor. It was so bright, almost like the sun bounced off the snow, creating a blinding light. She looked around to see huge icicles hung from the ceiling directly above her. Like they were waiting to impale her. The walls were a delicate brown, untouched by the snowfall. She looked towards the center of the room where the queen sat. Today she was dressed in all white, equally matching her room. Her scarlet hair flowed widely around her shoulders. Her face held a predatory smile on it. Clary shivered. Cold, she thought. The Queen is feeling cold today.
"My Queen" Eolande started. "I have fetched the Nephilim for you."
The Queen just simply waved her hand in a dismissal, and Eolande quickly scurried to the back of the room.
Jace took a few steps forward, bowing slightly. "Your Majesty. You look even more lovely than the last time I saw you." His voice took on that gentle persuasive tone it always did when he addresses her.
The smile never left the Queens face as she spoke. "Jonathan Morgenstern. You mean I was still lovely when you held a blade to my back in my own court?"
Jace regarded her with careful eyes, "Even more beautiful. Weapons do look good on you my Queen."
A faerie with yellow skin and blue, pupil-less eyes snarled at him and stepped forward. The Queen held up her hands and beckoned him to stand down.
She tipped her head back and let out a laugh. It sounded more like screeching to Clary. "I have to admit, I do miss your flattery son of Valentine. It does get awfully boring in my court."
Isabelle looking at the Queen with disgust. "He is not Valentines son." She snapped viscously. Simon stepped closer to Isabelle as Alec set a hand on her shoulder. A silent warning.
"Was he not raised by his hand? Fed by it? Trained by it? Blood is extremely powerful, but upbringings can hold just as much weight. He is as much Valentines son as he is Stephen Herondale's. You should do well to remember that." The Queen said, her gaze resting on Jace.
"Thank you for the wisdom my lady. But I am afraid we did not come here to discuss my bloodline. We actually found something in a book. Regarding a crown made of golden leaves. Do you know of such a thing?"
The Queens back straightened up quickly. "And what would you like to know about that?" the Queen hissed. As quickly as her mood changed, it returned back to her cool, calculated expression. "We Fair Folk have our secrets young Nephilim, some that do not concern you."
Clary stepped forward. The Queens attention snapped to her. Her stare was intimidating. She reminded Clary of a hawk who just found a small mouse in an open field.
"Clary." Alec cautioned. But she just stuck out her chin and spoke.
"We understand you have your secrets, as do we. I have no reason to trust you, but if I want some clear honesty from you then I will be honest myself. I had a dream of a girl who resembled Sebastian rising out of Lake Lyn. She was wearing the crown Jace described and we know the crown originates from your court. We need to know who she is and the threat she imposes."
The Queen was silent for a long time. To Clary it felt like years before she spoke again. "If you want to know about your dreams then I suggest you ask your mother if Jonathan was the only child she birthed that day."
Clary's breathe caught in her throat. She struggled to keep her voice even. "Of course Jonathan was the only other child my mother had."
The Queen sat back lazily and smiled. "Well if that is settled then, I must ask you to take your leave. I have important business to discuss with my court."
Jace's mouth opened like he wanted to say something, then thought better of it and snapped it closed. Eolande appeared next to them as if from smoke and beckoned them forward, back through the moss. Jace bowed and thanked the Queen, and looked to the others to do the same.
As they were walking back, Clary sparred a look over her shoulder to see the Queen staring back at her. She raised her hand and threw it over her heart, much like the girl did in her dream. But this time, Clary didn't feel peaceful, not even in the slightest.
Clary felt the Queens gaze, like a burn to the back of her head. Unbeknownst to her, the Queens eyes were not the only ones watching. Green eyes peered from behind the curtains across the room and watched her until she exited the thrown room, and continued to watch the space, long after Clary had left.
So what did you guys think? Honest opinions please!
Again I'll try to update more.
Until next time!