***************** Chapter 29 ****************

"Well that was cold and unpleasant." Jace groaned shaking himself off.

Jace never was one for swimming and the cold water in Central Park was no exception. Of course he knew that he had to do it but it still was unpleasant. Simon had told them when they got back from talking to the inquisitor that Vidia had a message for them. His grandmother had wanted him to stay but she understood. It seemed like all of the adults had come to terms with the fact that this was as much their children's fight as it was there's. He knew that in the end that it would be he, Clary and Jonathan to face Valentine. It would probably be Jonathan that took him down. There was only one way to end all of this; Valentine had to die. Jace didn't know if Clary had the heart to kill her own father.

"Let's go Clary." He called giving the red head a hand and pulling her out of the water.

Jonathan shivered slightly as he stepped out onto the rocky earth. Jace looked at him and gestured for him to take the lead. The halls of the Steelie court were dark and cold. The mood eerie and quiet. After taking a few steps forward a figure appeared at the end of the tunnel and began approaching them. Jonathan held out his witchlight and they were surprised to see a familiar face.

"Vidia!" his brother grinned.

The faerie girl approached and smiled at the group. It was when her eyes landed on Jonathan that Jace noticed a small change. She looked at him as if she wanted to undress him. He looked down at Clary who was oblivious to the situation. He doubted Jonathan missed the coy look in her smile. As if on cue his brother grinned his familiar "dazzling" smile. If it got him away from Clary Jace didn't care.

"I was hoping you and your siblings would come." She smiled once more.

"We asked the others to stay behind and get readying to take on Valentine. It is nice to see you well." Jace spoke up.

"You too Jace. Last time I saw you I believe you had quite the near death experience." Vidia replied.

"Life if full of trials I believe the fray like to say. Why not tell us what was so important?" Jonathan said. "Not that I am not delighted to see you again beautiful. Just that I am rather busy taking down a tyrant at the moment." He winked.

"Yes, a tyrant I and the Queen plan to assist you with in overthrowing." She smiled taking Jonathan's hand and pulling him away.

Clary and Jace followed her. Clary gave a wink to Jace after noticing the pair in front of them holding hands. Jace couldn't help but smile. It seemed like she had similar motives. It didn't take long to reach the grand throne room. Once we entered we were met with a pair of cold green eyes. Jace had heard that the Steelie queen was beautiful but from what he saw that beauty was only skin deep. The cold eyes lacked compassion and warmth as she sat stone like on her throne.

"My queen I bring you Jace Herondale and Jonathan and Clarissa Morgenstern; my saviors.

At this the queen smiled.

"I am in debt to you three for saving my beloved granddaughter Vidia." The queen spoke.

Clary and Jace's jaw dropped as they looked back at Vidia who was blushing. No wonder the queen was so willing to help them. They had saved a member of her family, a royal blooded faerie.

"I can see that Vidia failed to mention that she was a relation of mine. No matter, what is done is done. I understand that there is a war on your hands. I have been informed that Valentine has an army ready to attack Idris any minute now."

"But the sword? He has completed the transformation already?" Clary asked.

"If he hasn't he is close to unfortunately. We found the body of one of our youngest dead last night." Vidia replied.

The group looked down with disgust.

"It was too late for our kin but we were in time to save your werewolf friend. We narrowly got to her in time but she is alive." The queen said bitterly.

"Mia? Is that who you found? Luke has been looking for her since last night" she asked Vidia.

Vidia nodded.

"I believe so but we didn't get her name. She is still unconscious. She lost a great deal of blood."

Clary looked down and nodded with gratitude. Luke had noticed Mia went missing shortly after their meeting. It wasn't like her not to check in or be late when given an order. Jace would have gone searching with the pack but Simon gave them the message from Vidia.

"Thank you your majesty for your kindness. If Luke was here we would have more than just our gratitude to give you." Jace said.

The queen looked at him taking in his face.

"My, my you are a handsome one." The queen grinned.

Clary shot her a dirty look before the queen chuckled with amusement.

"Valentine will unleash his army at dusk tomorrow. He has already given the Clave an ultimatum."

"We are aware. We had been informed briefly before coming your majesty. We are leaving for Idris once this meeting is concluded." Jonathan replied.

The queen gazed at Jonathan seductively. Jonathan kept his facial expression guarded as Vidia looked at him sternly.

"Jonathan," Vidia called.

Jonathan turned his dark eyes to the girl and smiled.

"I would like you to remain here with me this evening. Our leading general wishes to speak with a Shadowhunter who knows the land and best attack methods. It would also give your friend enough time to recover so she could join your group tomorrow morning." Vidia requested.

Jonathan looked to Jace and Clary for confirmation. Jace couldn't help but think that there were other reasons Vidia wanted him to stay the night; none of which had to do with war planning. His brother would normally jump at the offer however with the stakes being so high he held back.

"As long as you meet up with us in Idris that morning than I don't see the harm. If anything it might even help us having Mia and an army that has some insight would be helpful as well." Jace replied to his unspoken question.

Clary looked up at Jace before turning her gaze to Jonathan and nodded reluctantly. She didn't like the idea of her brother staying here. The fay were tricky but they really didn't have a choice. If she spoke out now it would be rude and the queen might refuse to aid them.

"Well now that that is settled I think it is time that our guests leave. We have much preparation before we are ready tomorrow as do you in Idris." The queen addressed her guests.

If Clary hadn't saved Vidia herself she would find the situation officially suspicious. Instead she swallowed her pride and walked to her brother. Jonathan wrapped his arms around her.

"Don't eat anything." She whispered.

Jonathan chuckled at this and released her. Jace nodded at his brother before taking Clarissa's hand in his own.

"Goodbye dear Nephilim. We shall meet again shortly." The queen said before sending them on their way.

****************Line Break**************

"Do you really think it was a good idea to leave Jonathan there?" Clary asked stopping before the door to the institute.

Jace stopped behind her and sighed; leaning back against the steps. He began playing with the knife in his hands; a habit he tended to do when he was bored or nervous.

"A good idea maybe not but our options were rather limited. I think things will work out in the end. Jonathan is a smart guy." Jace replied.

Clary looked up at him sternly.

"Do you really think that or are you just saying that to appease your girlfriend?" Clary all but snapped. She couldn't help but feel this was Jace's way of getting rid of Jonathan after their awkward exchange. It had only been a day but they were in no position to dwell on things. There was a war on their hands. Clary knew her brother was messed up but he was hers. There was no way she would going to let anything happen to him if she had to fight the Steelie queen herself.

"Fiancée," Jace corrected her putting the knife away and wrapping his arms around her. He knew her long enough to read her like a book.

His arms were firm, tight and powerful. She looked down at the various runes and muscular indents on them. Many might think that the scares that laced his arms were imperfections but not Clary. She knew every mark was a story; a part of him. It dawned on her in that moment how quick everything did happen. Looking at his arms, the ones that she had seen her entire life but never thought would be so intimately wrapped around her.

"I know your worried baby but we have much bigger things to worry about. If Valentine wins it won't be just us that will suffer." He whispered softly in her ear.

Clary looked down. He was right of course. The entire world would suffer. She had already seen firsthand how her father treated mundanes and Downworlders. If he won he would cast this world into a shadow of darkness.

Clary looked up at the sky and saw the bright orange clouds signifying sun set. Her heart couldn't help but ache for the blue sunsets of home. The day had swept past them and they needed to get back to the institute. Imogen was setting up a secured portal into Idris so they could meet with the Clave. She hoped that they would listen but she knew better than to put much faith in the Clave.

They had the support of the fray and Magnus assured them that the Warlocks would come. Luke's pack and his old pack in Idris were willing to fight. In a matter of hours they had managed to mask an entire army. There was even a chance that the vampires would come. Apparently the two vampires that they had saved boosted to their comrades about the group of shadowhunters whose minds weren't tainted with entitlement. Clary was no stranger to the dislike with which shadowhunters treated Downworlders. She herself had nothing against them despite her father's ramblings. If it meant having more help than Clary was happy that she was indifferent. No one deserved to die in a cage like that.

"What are you thinking about?" Jace asked her releasing his hold.

"Just how time seems to be moving so quickly and how everything to be working out. We actually might have a chance to win this provided the Clave aren't idiots." She replied.

Jace grunted. Jace had a sincere disdain for the Clave. Clary took a step forward and they began to head back to the institute.

She hoped that what she had heard about the Clave from her father and friends were wrong….

****************Line Break**************

Jonathan sighed as he opened the door to his temporary bedroom.

After spending the remainder of the day running through battle tactics with the commander and checking on Mia he figured he was exhausted.

Jonathan smiled when he walked into his "guest room" and found her laying on his bed. Vidia had made her intentions of what was going to happen tonight very clear before leaving him to his work this afternoon. He didn't mind. He liked the faerie girl and he desperately needed a distraction from Clary. His body was still filled with tension after the last ordeal. He looked at the beautiful girl on his bed. Her bright blue eyes and pointed ears accented her defined face. She was pretty; sexy even. He especially loved her long red hair.

Jonathan smiled as she sauntered over to him before taking his hand and leading him to the bed. She was direct and knew what she wanted. He brought his lips down onto her neck kissing her bare skin. She moaned with delight encouraging him to continue. She wasn't Clary but no one would ever be. He needed to get over that and Vidia really was breathtaking to look at.

He smiled brining his lips to hers. It time to see if she met other requirements.

*************Authors Note*********************

Yes, yes, yes. Long time no see; I know. Well my friend's life gets in the way and I do apologize for not updating. I had intended for this chapter to be longer but I figured you were probably just ready to have an update. Any update.

Review Review Review Review -There are only two chapters left and I am curious to how you want this story to end.