Dedicated to dancerox1997 (Caitlyn)
(because she's put up with me complaining about my writers block, and she's a fantastic person)
She grew into the most beautiful child beneath the sun. When she was a young maiden the enchantress shut her away, deep within a forest.
As Tessa rolled over, just as she emerged from sleep, she was certain that it couldn't have been any earlier than noon. And for that she was thankful. She would need all the strength that she could get for the coming hours.
Slowly she rose from the bed and walked down the hall to her son's room. When she found that he wasn't there she smiled to herself. She knew that her husband must have gotten him, and so she went downstairs to their family room.
"Sleeping beauty has risen, I see," he smiled, pushing himself up from the floor.
"If you think that hair splayed in every which way on a sleep deprived wife is beautiful then I suppose so," she yawned.
"I very much do," he said.
He went and wrapped his arms around her, and then leaned in for a kiss.
"You won't be saying that when I'm as large as a horse in a few months or so," she told him, pulling back.
"You'll still be beautiful, even then."
"As beautiful as a stuffed sausage. Name one good thing about all of this, other than the baby."
She scowled as she let go of him and then knelt down next to their son to tell him good morning. He followed suit and sat beside her.
"You weren't sick this morning," he offered after a few moments, knowing that he waging a war he could not win.
"No, that's true. I wasn't sick."
They played with their son for a few minutes, until Will had to get up when a knock came at the door. He then left for a few moments, before reentering with their guest.
"Good morning!" Jem beamed.
"Good morning," Tessa smiled.
"I'll go fetch you some tea," Will told his wife.
He gave both her and Jem a loving look, and then went to the kitchen, leaving them alone with James. Jem happily walked over and plopped himself onto the ground beside them and began to play with the toddler.
"Will told me that you've come to watch James for us, while we're out for the day, I hope that it hasn't ruined any plans you might have had," Tessa said.
"I didn't have any other plans. And besides, there isn't anything I'd rather do than watch my mini me."
Tessa laughed. James was indeed seemingly a smaller version of Jem, looks aside of course. When he had been born there was no other name that had even been considered. And so their son had been named after the young boy whom Will had become a mentor to.
Tessa could only wonder what they would name their coming child.
"I still greatly appreciate it. Most boys wouldn't even dare to spend more than few passing moments with a two year old."
"It's no problem, I love watching Jamie," he assured her.
She watched him continue to play with her son, all the while asking him questions about his studies and his adoptive family. Tessa discovered that Henry had gone on a trip, and wouldn't be back for some time. Until he returned Charlotte's father was staying with them. She thought for a moment that she should invite Granville for dinner one evening, but then decided that she should propose the idea to Will first, as he was known for his dislike of those who possessed magic.
Will came back a little bit later with her tea. As he handed her the teacup he reminded Tessa that they were expected to be at her parents soon. She nodded and then told him that she wanted to finish her tea first.
Once she was done she rose to her feet and went upstairs to dress. It took her a while to pick out what she should wear, as she was unsure of what was appropriate given the occasion. In the end she settled on a dress that she might have worn to a wedding, or an event similar.
The dress was floor length (as all dresses were), and made of embroidered orange silk, with billowing sleeves. While the neckline was a little less modest than she would have preferred, given the precarious nature of what would happen that day, she accepted it. When she about to fasten the buttons and discovered that she couldn't she called for her husband.
Will walked in with a smile and gave her a knowing look. He then told her to turn and face the mirror so that he could fasten it for her.
"You picked my favorite dress," he told her, as he finished.
It wasn't that she had intended to, but rather that she had discovered that it was the nicest dress that she had which would fit. Aside from her casual dresses that she wore only at home there were no dresses she owned that would accommodate her growing stomach.
"Did I?"
Their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. From where she stood Tessa could see the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, causing her to feel a moment of sadness. She wondered if those had been there a year before, or even a month ago. While she loved every inch of inch him they stood as a reminder that he would grow old while she would not.
"Will," she breathed, turning towards him.
"Don't," he said, he said with a sad smile.
"How can I not? With today, and everything going on."
Will leaned forward and kissed her neck.
His lips touching her skin only hurt her more. There would be a day when he would not be there to do so. He would be buried with flowers planted atop his grave, all the while Tessa would stand by powerless.
"Today isn't about us," he told her," It's about your mother and your father and their commitment to each other."
"What about our commitment?" she asked, turning to face him properly.
They had had a loving ten years married and four together prior to that. But no matter what, it would not be the eternity Tessa wanted
"It isn't the same. Your parents have two immortal children, who they will never have to worry about outliving."
"And we could have the same," she insisted," My father could make you immortal."
"But at what cost, Tess? What would happen to James and the baby? And their children and so on. You can't hold on to everyone you love forever."
She then turned from him, as she was known to do when she found Will to be unreasonable. If she was forced to fight him until his last breath she would. Tessa refused to have him leave her alone.
They spent the remainder of their morning in nearly unbroken silence. Each needed to think and collect themselves.
They greeted their neighbors as they went. There were the Fairchilds down the road, who lived with their two sons, and beyond them lived Will's sister, Cecily with her husband. Further down were the ruins of the Carstairs' home, which had burned three years earlier, resulting in the death of Jem's parents and his subsequent adoption by the Fairchilds.
As they passed through the main square they ran into Will's older sister, Ella, who invited James and them to dinner the following evening. It was a brief encounter, though Tessa could tell that it had improved his mood. Will had not fully recovered from the earlier disagreement they had had.
"I'm sorry for earlier," Tessa said, looping her arm through Will's.
"Don't be," he sighed," We're both a bit tense. It isn't your fault."
With Will's words Tessa relaxed a bit. She pulled him closer, and kissed his cheek. The two spent the spent the rest of their journey in silent contentment.
When they arrived Tessa went into the house without knocking, calling out for her mother as she entered.
She called out for her parents and then she and Will went to the sitting room to wait for them. Her mother came down first, to greet them, followed by her father.
"Good morning," her Jocelyn smiled.
"Good morning," Tessa replied.
"Are you hungry?" her mother asked.
"Yes," Tessa admitted, realizing that she hadn't eaten that morning.
"Good," said Jocelyn, looking to Tessa's father, "We could all use a good breakfast, I think."
They followed her to the kitchen, where she cut a fresh loaf of bread for her family. She then unwrapped a wheel of cheese and set a knife out. Each member took a piece of each and then ate.
As Tessa had her breakfast she couldn't help but wonder if everything would be different by the following day. What impact would it have on her life? Her mother had never been an object of permanence to her, but soon she would live the same long life that Tessa would.
"Where is Nate?" she asked, breaking the silent concentration each member took in their meal.
"I haven't seen him this morning," her father said," You know how he can be."
"He was always one to wander," Jocelyn smiled weakly.
"I hope he shows up," Will muttered, before thinking.
"As do I, son," Valentine nodded in agreement.
Following the meal, Valentine went out to lay intertwining stone circles needed for the ceremony. Tessa couldn't help notice the way he slightly shook with nervous anticipation as he left the house. When it was time, Tessa, her mother, and Will joined her father outside.
Valentine instructed Jocelyn to move to the centermost point of the stone rings. Jocelyn nervously squeezed her daughters' hand one last time before doing so. Will came forward too take her place, and pulled Tessa close.
Stepping forward, Jocelyn to one final glance at her daughter. She then turned her back to her husband, who gave her a reassuring nod. With that Jocelyn signaled that she was ready to begin.
Valentine then began to say words Tessa did not recognize from the Gray Book. They were something far older than what Tessa had been allowed to study. As he said them Tessa developed a sickening feeling in her stomach.
Then he stopped and for a brief moment it were as though everything stood still. She looked over to her husband, and then back to her mother. She saw the concentration in her father's face, and the way he carefully spoke each word. And then everything in front of her was on fire.
The first thing to hit her was Jocelyn's screaming, with the second being the smell of burnt flesh. Third was her husband letting go of her and rushing forward into the flames.
"Will, no!" Tessa screamed.
She moved towards the circle, but before she could go far her father grabbed her and pulled her back. Then it was gone, leaving the air filled with white smoke.
Valentine let go of his daughter, and stepped back in horror, as he took in the sight of the bodies of his dead wife and son in law. Tessa fell to her knees beside Will and began to cry over his body.
"Will," she sobbed.
He suddenly gasped for air. After a brief moment of struggling to breathe, he reached up to touch Tessa's face, before slowly closing his eyes one final time.
She sat holding Will for what would never feel like long enough when she looked back on that day in the years to come. If she could have changed anything it would have been that.
Out of the corner of he eye she saw the door to the barn move. She let go of Will, and pushed herself off of the ground, and began to make her way towards the door.
As Tessa approached the barn the sickening feeling in her stomach increased, and she felt as if she were about to faint. Her heart was racing more with each step.
"Nate?" she croaked, pushing open the door.
She was too distracted by the throbbing in her head to appreciate the relief her body felt breathing in smoke free air. Though forgot even the sharp headache as her eyes focused on the room.
At first she thought that Nate was kissing Catarina by the way he hovering above her, with his palms on the ground, holding himself up. But as she stood there unsure of how to interject she realized that Catarina wasn't moving. She lay lifeless under Nate, making it appear as though she were looking at the ceiling with a fixed gaze. All at once Tessa saw noticed the blood coming from Catarina's neck, seeping into the hay beneath her.
Slowly Tessa backed up to the wall in shock. Everything in her screamed to turn in run away, but she couldn't. It wasn't until Nate proudly stood up to admire his work that she was able to force herself to stumble out of the barn, slipping on more blood that she had failed to notice when she came in.
"Tessie," she heard him call from behind her, just as she was nearly halfway to the house.
She whirled around to face him in shock and wonder. He smiled down at her, and brushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he asked, showing her his crimson stained hands," Nothing is as pure as fresh blood."
Tessa trembled, unsure of what to do. She knew he would catch her if she ran and he was too strong to fight with.
"I wonder what yours would look like. Everyone is unique," he smirked," And I don't see your precious husband around to stop me."
She swallowed hard, feeling as though her windpipes were about to close in on themselves.
"Mother is dead, Nate," she said.
"Oh?" he mused," What a shame. I wanted her to be the one to find your body. But I suppose Will will have to do."
Silently Tessa was thankful that Will wouldn't, but she regretted the thought at once. As she watched Nate pull his blade from his belt she thought to herself that she and Will would be together soon.
Nate wrapped his hands around her neck and pushed her to the ground. Tessa clawed at his hands as he tightened his grip on her neck.
She felt her fighting slow, and the light around her begin to grow dark. Then he was off of her and unconscious beside her. Tessa gasped for air, clutching her stomach, in the realization of what she had almost willingly allowed to happen. After a moment she looked up to see Magnus, who was reaching down for her. As he helped Tessa to her feet his eyes went to his sister, lying lifeless on the ground.
Before she had time to say anything, Magnus was pulling her towards the barn door, and Nate was awake again. He lunged at the pair, but narrowly missed, as he slipped on a pool of Catarina's blood. By the time he was almost on his feet, Magnus had hit him with an incantation and he was on the ground once more.
"That should have killed him," Magnus breathed.
Tessa looked at Magnus in horror, with the understanding. The brother that she had so loved had taken the life of her best friend and then turned on her. But with Magnus's words she realized that the only possible way for Nate to have survived Magnus's blow was for him to have turned to dark magic.
"Come on," he said dragging her towards the house," We have to go before he wakes again."
The first thing Valentine noticed were the fresh red stains on the hem of his daughter's dress. And with that it were as if he already knew that something more had happened.
"Tessa, you must leave," Valentine insisted, after Magnus had finished recounting Catarina's murder and Nate's attempts at taking Tessa's life.
He pulled his daughter close to him and held her tight. While Valentine had never been the most affectionate, he knew that it was what they both needed. It was his job to convince himself and Tessa that her leaving was for the best.
"No, I can't."
Valentine let go of her and moved her back slightly so that her eyes met his.
"Think about your son and your baby and what is best for them. Think of Will and what he would want," her father went on.
"Your father is right," Magnus agreed," It isn't safe here. Even if we wanted we couldn't kill your brother. And he will come for you if our suspicions are correct."
She took in what they were saying. In what had been the worst day of her life she had lost her mother in a ceremony that was supposed to give her immortality, her husband when he had tried to save her mother, she had seen her brother lying over the her murdered best friend, before he turned on her, and she was then being told to leave the only place she had ever called home.
"You're going to leave Tess. And you're going to make a new life for yourself," Valentine said, before turning to Magnus," Magnus, promise me that you will take care of her, that you won't leave her."
"I will never leave her side."
Tessa pushed open the front to her home and without hesitation called out for Jem and her son. Within moments she had found them. And as she leaned over to pick up James, she instructed Magnus to gather their things from upstairs.
"What's going on?" Jem asked.
She turned to face him.
"You need to go home, Jem. It isn't safe here."
His eyes widened in fear, and he took a step back from Tessa.
"Where is Will?"
She gazed sadly down at Jem. She didn't want to have to tell him.
"Tessa, I have everything," Magnus said, coming back downstairs.
Tessa sighed, taking a finally look at what had been her and Will's home, since they had married ten years prior. It had been their safest place. And where they had wanted to raise their children, together.
Tessa slowly brought herself to Jem's eye level and took one of his hands.
"I promise that one day we will meet again."
Magnus, Tessa and James spent the months following Will and Jocelyn's death searching for somewhere safe to be. Shortly before the arrival of the Herondale's second child, the trio settled into a cottage deep in the woods, on the outskirts of Idris. It was not home, but it would do for keeping the children safe and hidden.
Their daughter, Lucie, was born in the winter of that year, coming into the world with an older brother to adore her, an uncle to guide her and a mother to care for her with the patience of two parents.
Through the years and the trials they brought, Tessa and Lucie grew together. Tessa became a loving mother, while Lucie blossomed into the young woman who would become queen, when her prince came to rescue her.
Hey! I know it's been a really long time and I'm so sorry! I've had really bad writers block.
Anyway, in reference to the chapter I would like to say that Magnus and Catarina were siblings in this and the reason for Nate murdering her was that he wanted her power. This is why Tessa and her children needed to leave, along with Magnus, because he would be coming for them next. Also, Lucie is Maryse. That will be explained later.
Something else to note is that took place at least 50 years prior to when everything with Seraphina and Jace is happening.
I think that should cover any foreseeable questions, but if you have any regarding timeline or you need clarification, feel free to PM me.
*side note: someone else in this story, other than Seraphina (aka Rapunzel) takes the role of one of the classic princesses. I'd love to hear your theories on who it is.
Please review with your thoughts, criticisms, and ideas!
~Lillie
