*Warning: This Chapter Contains Infernal Devices Spoilers*
Chapter Thirteen: The Week Before
The last week is full of hustle and bustle preparations. Everyone has been arriving from New York and is staying with us. Alec and Magnus are staying in Jonathan's room, Dad and Maryse and Jocelyn (who are definitely still a thing), are staying in Jace's room. Max is staying in my room, so he can read all of my Manga, of course. And Simon and Maia are staying in Izzy's room. We've all been sleeping in the family room every night anyway, so it doesn't put us out any to have to 'give up our rooms'.
The kitchen, on the other hand, has become quite the coveted commodity. All of our guests with the exception of maybe Max, keep trying to cook for us and we keep reminding them that as guests, we should be cooking for them, and then they in turn remind us that we're getting married in less than a week and need to be focused on preparations, not on feeding the masses that have invaded our home (Their words, not mine).
"Have you ladies figured out who is walking down the aisle with you?" Jace asks us as the breakfast table on the second morning since our guests have arrived.
"Yeah, we figured if we put dad in the middle with one of us on either side of him, then Maryse next to Izzy on the right and Jocelyn next to me on the left, it should work. And Dad's going to wear an old pocket watch of Robert's as a remembrance to him, so that even though he can't be here for Izzy in body, he'll be with her in spirit." I say, relieved that we finally have all of that sorted out.
"Good, and Amatis gave me a box of Stephen's things. In it I found his family ring as well as Celine's so I'm going to wear them on a chain around my neck as well." Jace says, growing quiet, as he usually does whenever the subject of his birth-parents comes up. Jocelyn is the only parent he's ever known, so I think sometimes it's weird for him to be a part of the whole Herondale legacy and all that it encompasses, when he never even had the opportunity to meet his parents.
"Perfect, now all of our parental figures are represented. Are all the bridesmaids fitted for their dresses?" Jonathan asks, checking off a list.
"Yes, all eight of them, I made sure of it." Izzy says, proud that one of her main tasks is complete.
"Perfect! And I know the groomsmen have their tuxes ready, I saw to that myself." Jonathan nods, making another mark on his page. "Where are we with the music Jace?" Jon asks.
"I have all of the pieces recorded, we just have to decide on the order we want them to play in. I…" Jace begins and is abruptly cut off by the ringing of the doorbell. "Who could that be?" He asks, getting up to answer it. When he opens the door, we see a beautiful young woman with long brown hair and grey eyes standing on the threshold.
"Pardon my intrusion" She says. "I am looking for Jace Herondale and family; am I right in assuming by your appearance, that you simply must be him?" She asks, seeming slightly nervous.
"Yes, I am. Come in." He says, ushering her inside. "Judging by that statement, I assume you knew my parents?" He asks.
"Oh my boy, I have known a great many members of your family. In fact, I am a very old part of it myself." She smiles. Just then, from the other room, Magnus comes traipsing in.
"Tessa!?" He exclaims. "I thought I heard your voice, but I thought it couldn't be! Whatever are you doing here?" He asks, hugging the woman, whom the rest of us still don't recognize.
"I would never miss a Herondale wedding, Magnus, you should have known better than to think I wouldn't be here." She laughs whimsically.
"I'm so confused." Izzy whispers to me.
"Yeah, me too." I say.
"Where are my manners Tessa! I should be introducing you to everyone!" Magnus exclaims. "I suppose I should begin with Jace, since he's the reason you're really here. Jace, this is Tessa Gray. Tessa is a warlock, which is why she's still so stunning after all of these years and she also happens to be one of your ancestors. Tessa, would you care to explain the connection?" Magnus steps aside, giving Tessa the floor.
"Gladly, thank you Magnus. Gray is actually my maiden name. I returned to it after I lost my husband in order to better keep my anonymity. My married name, was Herondale. And I suppose, if you want to get technical, I would be your great, great, great grandmother, Jace, as confusing as I'm sure that is." She smiles.
"Wait, what? I thought warlocks couldn't have children?" Isabelle asks.
"That is an excellent question Miss Lightwood and it is true that normally, they cannot. But my mother was a Shadowhunter, although she never knew it and was not marked. And since Shadowhunter blood is dominant, I was able to conceive where other warlocks are unable." She grins, looking at Isabelle.
"How did you know I'm a Lightwood?" Isabelle asks.
"That ruby you are wearing gives you away. It was given to my husband and he then gave it as a gift to his sister, who went on to marry a Lightwood and it's been in her family ever since." She says, seeming miles away.
"Oh come now Tessa, you haven't forgotten who gave it to Will in the first place, have you?" Magnus says, obviously getting his nose out of joint.
"No, I hadn't forgotten, I just assumed you would have already told her that part of the story." Tessa says.
"Wait a second… this necklace was originally Magnus's? Why didn't you ever say anything?" Izzy asks, turning to Magnus.
"I had entirely forgotten about it until just now. You'd be surprised how quickly you lose track of things at my age." Magnus smirks.
"Well, I hadn't realized my pendant had such a rich history. Maybe it can be my 'something old' for the wedding?" Izzy inquires.
"Good idea Babe!" I say. Jonathan marks that off on the planning sheet. "So, you're connected to the Herondales and Lightwoods then, is that it?" I ask Tessa.
"Well, I'm also connected to your family on your mother's side because one of her ancestors was one of my best friends as well as a sort of, surrogate mother to me in my teenage years." She smiles.
"That's interesting, which ancestor of mine?" Jocelyn pipes up from the couch where she and Dad and Maryse have been observing this whole exchange.
"Charlotte Branwell. You both seem to take after her in fact, little and feisty. Anyway, she was a wonderful woman, a great friend, an exceptional mother, a loving wife and a strong Consul. She didn't have your red hair though; you most likely get that from Henry's side." Tessa smiled.
"Wow, it seems you know more about our families than we do. Do you have somewhere to stay while you're in Idris? You're definitely welcome to stay here." Jace smiles at Tessa. "Besides, you obviously have just as much claim to the manor house as I do, being the oldest living Herondale."
"That's very kind of you to say, Jace. I would have been borrowing the Warlock representative's house, but maybe, if you'd like me to stay here, I'd be able to help with preparations for the wedding?" She asks tentatively, obviously not wanting to impose.
"That's actually perfect! We happen to have a beautiful guest room that isn't in use and all our family from New York are staying here anyway, including Magnus, so you'll be perfectly welcome!" I say.
"Great! Thank you so much for your hospitality. I'll send for my things in town then. Do you have any other errands that want accomplishing while I'm at it?" She asks.
"Actually yes, if you wouldn't mind stopping in at the florist's to make sure she was able to acquire our 'Edith Wolford' from Beatrice Pangborn. That would be entirely helpful." Jonathan smiles hopefully at Tessa.
"Why, yes I can do that. It's no trouble at all. 'Edith Wolford', that's Iris Germanica, isn't it? That's a lovely flower!" She grins.
"Yes, it is. Although I've been awfully concerned about the source. Let me know if she's had any trouble acquiring it. I may have to send in my secret weapon." Jonathan laughs.
"Not a problem. She's getting it for you from a Pangborn is it? Yes, I do see the problem. They've been awfully difficult ever since the days of the Circle of Raziel. As a Downworlder myself, I still run into problems with them on occasion." She sighs.
"My personal apologies for all of the trouble I caused in my rambunctious youth." Dad says from across the room, standing now, facing Tessa head on. "Starting that blasted Circle has been the biggest regret of my life. And it appears, at least in the case of the Pangborns, that some people simply won't let sleeping dogs lay, such a shame indeed." He says, shaking his head.
"Mr. Morgenstern, no one that I know of holds you responsible for that debacle any longer. As you say, you were an impetuous youth. Frustrated by the Clave, no doubt, as I'm sure we all have been at one point or another, and itching to do something about. It's entirely understandable and thankfully you had the foresight to stop it before it got too out of hand. I've lived long enough to see the alternative first hand and what happens when one gets carried away with one's misguided ideals. If some of your former lieutenants have gotten themselves carried away with theirs, it's really no fault of yours." She says, firmly, leaving no room for doubt in the matter.
"Jonathan what is your secret weapon?" I ask, laughing a little at the idea of a 'weapon' to help us acquire our flowers.
"Dad is. If the florist can't get our flowers from Miss Pangborn, I plan to send Dad over. She seems a little star struck where he is concerned, so I figure, if anyone can convince her, it will be the great Valentine Morgenstern himself." Jon smirks and we all have a chuckle at that.
Later that night, Jonathan and Izzy have retired early since they're both fighting off a bug and don't want to be sick for the wedding and Jace and I are sitting by the fire, listening to Tessa tell stories of previous generations of Herondales and Fairchilds and Lightwoods and the many grand adventures they had. It's surprising to me that since she's come here, she hasn't once batted and eyelash over the nature of our upcoming marriage, so I decide to ask her about it.
"Tessa, you've been so relaxed with us since you've arrived, I wonder, especially with your being from another time and a time of propriety nonetheless, doesn't it bother you? The last of your Herondale descendants entering into such an unconventional union, I'd think you might have a hard time with that." I say, trying to draw her out about it.
"Oh Clarissa, it's very kind of you to worry about what I think, but there are a few reasons why I don't find it nearly as odd as you seem to think I should. First, I am the only one of my kind. A warlock bred from a Shadowhunter and a greater demon, just doesn't happen. And yet, despite what I am, my husband fell in love with me, during a time when Shadowhunters marrying Downworlders was frowned upon. Not only that, but his Parabatai and I were also in love. In fact, if it had been a different time and one of them hadn't been dying, I probably would have found myself in a similar situation to your own. So you see it would be very hypocritical of me to judge." She smiles at us, with motherly warmth that belies her youthful looks.
"Wow, that's amazing. What happened to his Parabatai? Did he die?" I ask, never one to beat around the bush.
"No, at the last minute he chose to beat his illness by becoming a Silent Brother, rather than succumb to it. He's still alive, he just has a different life now." She sighs.
"That must be hard, knowing that someone out there loves you and not being able to be with him." I say, nearly in tears over Tessa's story.
"It is. But we've kept in touch, so at least I know he's doing well." She smiles.
"Surely there must be a way that the Silent Brothers would let him out of his servitude, isn't there?" Jace (who I have to remind myself was not raised in the Shadow world) asks.
"No Jace. I'm afraid there is no earthly way they'd give him back to me." She says, gently shaking her head.
"Well then, maybe we'll just have to help you find an unearthly way. Clary and I have angel blood, as I'm sure you've heard. What good is having angel blood if you can't use it to help people? We will find a way, Tessa. We'll reunite you with your lost love. After all, we've heard your stories now, and I'm not stupid. I'm directly descended from you and so it seems, if it wasn't for your bravery on many occasions, I wouldn't have ever even been born. Really, it's the least we can do." He smiles. Blissfully unaware of the gravity of what he just promised. Now, it seems, we're on the hook for an impossible task. Oh Jace!