"Thou wouldst fetch thy dearest, but the beautiful bird sits no longer singing in the nest; the cat has got it, and will scratch out thy eyes as well. Rapunzel is lost to thee; thou wilt never see her more."


As the days turned into weeks and the memories began to fade he seemed to be nothing more than a dream. And soon Seraphina became almost sure that he had been. After a month had passed she was certain that he would not be returning.

Jace missed her as well. Since Isabelle had been elevated to the position of Crown Princess he had found himself with much more time. Though as he saw it just allowed him to let his mind wander to Seraphina more often. The guilt of not having returned nearly consumed him.

"Your father expects you in the throne room at noon sharp," Hodge, the head advisor to Jace's father, informed him.

For the past month he had been keeping mostly to his room. Not because he wanted to be alone, but rather because he knew that his father hated informal meetings, and so he refused to come to Jace's room to speak with his son. Which was exactly why Hodge had been sent. Because they were orders from the King he couldn't say no, but that didn't mean that he would go so easily.

"Why?" he asked," I'm nothing to him now. He has Isabelle at his beck and call."

Since the announcement everything had been changing around him. When passed in the hall by servants, courtiers, advisors and so on the curtsies and bows seemed to be a little less deep. If he asked a question, when the advisors met in the Council, no one seemed to hear him. His own mother even seemed to be too busy for him. Up until then Jace had never realized just how much the world had revolved around him.

"Just because he took your position as Crown Prince away doesn't mean that he doesn't still love you. He just doesn't think you've proven yourself."

"And Isabelle has?" he laughed," I love my sister dearly, but she hasn't shown the slightest interest in anything but gowns and festivities since the age of twelve."

"And you have done nothing in the past few years but run after women," Hodge said.

Jace's eyes widened. What Hodge had said was indeed a well known fact. However, no one had had the audacity to ever verbalize it. After all, he was a prince. Why shouldn't he be attentive towards women rather that his duties as the future king. He would have time for that once his father died. Of course that had been before.

"All the wrong ones according to my father."

"You know, he did try hard. He was so sure that the last one would meet your approval."

"Hardly. Jessamine couldn't have been more vain if she had tried," Jace rolled his eyes," She was even more vain than me, which is saying something. Thank the Angel the went back to whatever terrible kingdom she came from."

It was Hodge's turn to be surprised.

"Since when do you willingly admit that you're vain?" Hodge asked.

"I guess ever since I couldn't afford to be that way anymore," Jace shrugged.

"Your father greatly underestimates you," Hodge told him," Maybe some good will come out of all this."

"You're right," Jace smarted back," At least now I don't have to be the one to marry Meliorn.

Sensing that the moment of Jace being halfway decent had passed Hodge bowed and left. After some angry pondering Jace then went to see his sister.

"Isabelle?" he said, knocking on the door to her room.

After a moment of silence, followed by the noise of something falling to the floor, she called for him to enter. He was surprised to find her wide-eyed and red in the face, surrounded by maids. And instead of what she usually wore she had on a dress which looked to be made of flower petals.

The gown was a flowing one, composed of fine blue flower petals, which seemed to be sewn together by vines. The upper part of the dress was tight around her waist, where her corset was laced in the most, while the skirt was large, making her seem small. All together it was stunning.

Jace almost let himself imagine what Seraphina would look like in the dress, but he stopped himself.

"Why are you dressed in that?" he asked.

Isabelle's eyes narrowed as she took in a sharp breath.

"Meliorn is arriving today," she told him, through clenched teeth.

"I didn't know that," Jace said, knitting his brows together.

Isabelle's face became even redder. With a huff she dismissed everyone from the room.

"You would have known if you ever cared to pay any attention," she snapped, once they had all gone.

"I-I'm sorry,' Jace stammered.

"Sorry," she scoffed," The only thing you're sorry about is that you're no longer given the same privileges."

"Isabelle," he whispered, stepping towards her," What happened to you?"

"You let me down," she said.

Isabelle angrily pulled away from him and went to stand on the other end of the room.

"I never meant to," Jace assured her.

"But you did. And now I'm stuck in this mess."

Once more he stepped towards her. When he was less than two feet away he extended his hand to her. She stared at him for a moment, before turning away.

"Isabelle, please, let me help you," Jace begged.

"You've helped enough already," she growled," Just go."

"But-"

"Go," she repeated.

This time he listened to her, and he left just as she had told him to do.


At two minutes past noon Jace entered the throne room. Of course the first thing he saw was the anger on his father's face, but he didn't care. His father should have already known that he would be late just to spite him.

His eyes then went to Isabelle, who stood next to their mother. Her eyes were still red, but it was the only thing out of place about her. The rest of her looked as if she were ready to become the queen of the Fae right then and there.

Alec and Max were standing alongside their parents as well, but more off to the side. Each stood, looking grimly ahead, with their hands clasped in front of them. And in that moment, even with everything that Isabelle was about to endure, he felt the most sympathy towards Max. Because for the first time it hit him that Max was no longer a child. He couldn't be sure if that was just when he first noticed or if because of what was about to happen he had been forced to suddenly grow up. But at sixteen Max was more grown up than Jace had ever been in the previous twenty-three years of his own life.

In the midst of it all he had somehow walked forward and gone to stand at the front of the crowd. All the while having his father glare intently at him.

"Seeing as my son has finally decided to grace us with his presence we can move forward," his father boomed," Let the Prince enter."

Everyone, including Jace, turned as the large wooden doors of the entryway opened. There was an audible gasp from those who stared in awe as the grand Faerie procession entered the room. From the large number of Faerie courtiers pouring into the room it appeared as if the entire court, aside from the Seelie Queen herself, had come in celebration.

But as Jace watched the dark eyes of the Fae go instantly to Isabelle he knew that he had been wrong. They were not in Idris to celebrate. They were there to appraise Isabelle. They wanted to see the woman who would soon become their princess, and would one day be their queen. While most narrowed their eyes in displeasure, a few nodded with some sense of satisfaction.

After what seemed to be an eternity the Faerie courtiers entering the throne room slowed to a trickle, until finally no more came. And then to Jace's surprise, Jonathan walked in.

"His Royal Highness Prince Meliorn of the Seelie Court," Jonathan announced.

As he walked forward Jace noticed the pain on his face. It seemed to grow with each step he took forward. By the time he came to stand beside Jace he appeared to be in agony. Jace stood unable to ask him what was wrong.

Moments before Meliorn entered the throne room he caught Isabelle staring over at him. When her eyes met his they immediately returned back to the entryway.

Meliorn glide into the room with ease. As he past his own courtiers and those of Idris he nodded, with a knowing smirk. Within moments he stood before Jace's father.

"King Robert," he said, with a small bow, which was more of a sign of mockery than respect.

When he rose to stand upright his piercing green eyes became visible. They had a stark contrast with his dark hair. Jace hated to think it, but Meliorn was beautiful.

Slowly Meliorn approached Isabelle. Jace watched as he took Isabelle's hand and pressed a kiss to it. He appeared to be quite pleased with her, the thought of which sickened Jace.

Jace's eyes went to the king. Robert nodded to his son, with a clear message. He wanted Jace to see who he had chosen to replace him as future king. He wanted to him to know that because of his stupidity the punishment was going to be kneeling to Meliorn.

Taking a step back Meliorn looked at royal family, with what seemed to be a knowing look.

"I sense magic," he smirked," Especially in my bride to be."

"Magic," The king gasped," There is no magic in our family."

"On the contrary. There is no magic in you. Each one of your children posses it, even your queen."


Tessa jumped down from her horse, ignoring the protests of her husband.

"Magnus doesn't like it when we stop," Jem warned.

Removing her gloves, she went to stand under the shade of a tree. The afternoon sun had been beating down on her for hours, and had worn her out.

"He'll understand," she told him.

Jem let out a sigh, before following suit and dismounting his own horse. After grabbing some food from his saddlebag he went to be with her.

"Here," he said, as he tried handing her a piece of bread.

Tessa shook her head in refusal.

"Tessa, you need to eat. It's not good for you to keep doing this."

"I just don't feel well," she said.

"I understand," Jem assured her, as he lovingly stroked her back.

As they stood together Magnus approached on his horse.

"Why did you stop?" Magnus asked.

"Tessa needs to rest," Jem answered.

He went over to Magnus and handed him the bread.

"See if you can get her to eat," Jem told him, before walking off.

Magnus exhaled loudly and got down off of his own horse. He knew that Jem wanted to help, but there were certain times when Magnus was the only one who knew what to say. After all he had been with her for over half a century.

Without saying a word he went and wrapped his arms around her. Tessa broke down at once.

"I miss him," Tessa cried.

"I do too," he agreed.

There wasn't a day that went by where she didn't miss her first husband. While she did love Jem it had never been quite the same. Will had been her world. They were supposed to have had a lifetime together, even if Tessa outlived him. But after only ten years he had been killed in an accident. In the same one that had killed her mother and caused her father to go nearly mad with grief.

She could still vividly recall it. The fire. The screaming. Will rushing forward. And how she cried out.

Tessa began to mumble incoherently into Magnus's coat.

"I can't hear you," he said, stroking her hair.

She pulled back and looked up at him, which allowed Magnus to see just what a wreck she was. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were flushed, while her hair was nothing short of a disaster.

"I've done everything wrong in my life and my punishment is that I'll never die."

"No," he shook his head," It was a gift. And you wouldn't be living if you didn't have regrets and grievances."

"I regret what I did. I shouldn't have given her up."

"I know, Tess," Magnus soothed," But you know that she's loved.


Sorry that I haven't updated in a couple of weeks, but I just started school again. It's been pretty crazy, but I'll try and make time to write.

Oh, and at this point I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but Jace is somewhat of a playboy).

But anyway, what are your thoughts? What is up with Tessa? And Meliorn mentioning magic? (I was totally smirking while I wrote these questions)

Please review and give your thoughts, comments and suggestions! My goal if 5 for the chapter. Which brings us to 47. Please... Come on, you know you're feeling things and you want to tell me. I mean Melon is saying there's magic in the royal family and that is like a huge deal and then something is up with Tessa.

~Lillie