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Chapter 6

Six months later

As Clary was sitting in class she found her eyes drooping slightly, she'd been up half the night talking and playing with Jace and now she was paying the price.

"Parabatai," Hodge was saying, "is an idea of warrior comradeship that goes back a long time, perhaps even centuaries. The initial inspiration for the parabatai bonds came from an old tale, particularly the story of David and Jonathan. David and Jonathan were exceptional warriors who loved each other dearly and whose souls were knit together by Heaven after forming a covenant. Out of that story, Jonathan Shadowhunter took the idea of parabatai, and encoded the ceremony into the Law. If a parabatai is found before one is 18, you can stand before the clave and have a ceremony binding yourselves to your partner. Some would say you are closer to your parabatai than even your siblings."

At this information, Clary found herself wide awake again. Looking around eagerly she caught Jace's eye, who had been trying to do the exact same thing. This bond sounded perfect, and the idea that it enhanced your ability to perform and corporate just made it even better. For months now they had been fighting together, and along with their other two closest shadowhunter friends Izzy and Alec, they made an incredible team.

As soon as class ended Jace found Clary outside the door and with a quick glance they were running off down the institute halls, racing to get to Maryse's office. Arriving at the door they heard the sound of raised voices which they could only understand bits of.

"Robert they had the lesson today. You know exactly what will happen now."

"Mar..I don't see the issue. They're fantastic fighters and amazingly in tune with one another, especially for their age. It's as if they even know what the other is thinking."

"Robert you know the rules! It's against the law if what is blindingly obvious to everyone else happens. That'll be on us you know. And it would be denying them the happiness they deserve."

"Just think what they could become! The two best shadowhunters of this generation, as parabatai?"

"We're done with this conversation Robert. As the listed head of this institute I am saying under no circumstances will this happen."

"You're making a mistake Maryse, and a big one at that." Robert said as he strided over to the door and yanked it open, stopping in his tracks when he saw Jace and Clary there with their small fists raised to knock.

Robert just shook his head at the children, muttering a wry 'good luck' In their way before hurrying down the corridor with anger.

"Jace, Clary...come in" Maryse sounded tired as she spoke the words softly. Hesitantly the two edged forwards towards her desk.

"Hodge was telling us about this bond, the para..parabatai and I, well WE would um..." Jace trailed off, not normally having a problem with articulating his thoughts.

"We'd like to be bonded." Clary finished for him with a note of certainty in her voice. Jace nodded further confirmation as he grasped Clary's hand, eagerly awaiting the response of Maryse.

"I understand where you're coming from, I really do. But bonds must be approved by the leader of the institute and..."

"So we can do it?!" Clary said, jumping up and down with excitement. Jace however, was standing stoically, with a wave of realisation hitting him.

"Not exactly.." Maryse tried to continue but found it more difficult than she had anticipated to deliver the news to the children who she regarded as her own.

"But you said they had to be approved by the leader...which is you...so..." Clary had stopped jumping for joy and was now staring at Maryse with tears welling up in her large green eyes.

"We haven't GOT her approval Clary, and by the sounds of things we never will." Jace's tone was cold and unforgiving as he glared at the woman he considered his mother.

"It's not that I wouldn't want you two to become each others parabatai, but it's just you don't understand the repercussions for two bonding such as yourselves. You see you're young, and revealing the reason for my apprehension would be counter productive in itself..." Maryse trailed off once more as she realised this was doing more harm than good. She forced a smile on her face as she have her final words.

"You both have until you're 18 to decide. Do me a favour and do some further research, to understand what it entails...then if you still want to do the ritual at 17 then we'll see. And remember this is not a decision to be entered into lightly. Now I have a lot of work to do regarding the trip to Idris in a few days time so if you would excuse me." Her tone held a note of finality and sternness, which Jace knew only came about as a last resort as despite appearances Maryse was extremely patient and loving. Looking at her carefully for a few moments he nodded before taking Clary's hand and taking her out of the room.

Once outside Clary didn't look disheartened. "See Jace! We just have to wait until we're 17 and then we can get it done! Maryse said she would approve it!"

"No Clary she said she would 'see' just to get us off her back. She won't approve it." Jace's voice was flat and devoid of emotion as he stared desolately at the ground.

"But..no Jace she-"

"CLARY." At this sharp interruption Clary flinched involuntarily.

"Clary," Jace said again, but softer this time, "trust me on this - I don't see it happening. But it doesn't mean that we're not best friends, or that we stop training together. In fact if we were parabatai with other people that might just make us a better team don't you think?"

"Izzy and Alec..." Clary whispered, already on the same page.

"Just think about it. Hodge said that the parabatai bond is stronger or at least as strong as siblings, Therefore Alec and Izzy obviously have a strong bond - and your other best friend is Izz and mine Alec. If you bonded to Izzy and me to Alec us four would be unbeatable in a fight."

Clary grinned. "Let's do it."

Jace returned the gesture with his own signature smirk.

"We'll give them a trial tonight, after bedtime in the training room, see just what they are made of."

As they walked down the hall towards the dining room for lunch the two of them were invigorated by the possibility of tonight and what it could bring. Little did they know that it would spark a chain of events leading to a situation far more dangerous than any of them had ever been in before.

So...any guesses for why Maryse doesn't want them to be parabatai? (Don't know if I was being exactly subtle or not...) hope you liked it! :)