Chapter 6

"Alec!" Alec turned at the urgent voice, spotting Magnus striding down the hallway towards him. There was no-one else in the darkened hallway outside the medical sector of the fortress. Alec had come here to get away from the silent blame of his mother and anxious energy of his sister; From the worried pacing of Jace, and the stoic calm of his father. The medics had taken Max behind closed doors straight away, and they still hadn't come out.

"Magnus." Alec didn't hesitate, didn't stop to think, before he pulled Magnus in for a tight hug. The rider's arm folded tightly around him, and Alec breathed him in, letting the sent of him settle his heavy head.

"How is he?" Magnus asked, his voice tight.

"They haven't told us yet." Alec stepped out of the hug, folding his arms tightly around himself. "But the way he was screaming, he can't be good." Magnus carefully reached up to stroke away a tear that Alec refused to accept was there. "I thought he was a farmer. I should have seen. I should have stopped him, somehow."

"Darling, you did everything you could." Magnus' hand was still resting softly against Alec's cheek, and his eyes were filled with a warm worry that had even more tears follow the first one. "We've scouted the area. There was no-one else out there but him. He was dressed as a farmer, and he had a communicator on him. We think he must have been a spy, scouting the area. Maybe he saw two of the lord's sons on their own and figured he could make a name for himself by taking them out. He paid for that."

"I shouldn't have killed him. We needed the information he had. We could have gotten their plans." frustrated with himself, Alec took a step away from Magnus.

"If you hadn't he might have killed you and Max. Wondering what could have happened won't do us any good. We need to focus on what is happening." Magnus didn't step closer, but instead watched Alec with calm, certain eyes. "We should double the watch, and send out scouts on our own. If there are spies here, they must be planning something, and we need to be prepared." Magnus slipped into his rider persona as he spoke, his back going straighter, his voice getting tighter and the emotions sliding of his face.

"Of course." Alec agreed, pushing his own emotions down, too. "Give the orders." Magnus nodded sharply, turning to walk back down the hall. "And Magnus," Alec called after him, and the rider turned to raise in eyebrow in question. "Thank you." Again, a sharp nod before Magnus disappeared from view. Alec starred after him for a moment, willing his fist to stop shaking. Then he turned on his heels, making his way back to his family.

The room they had taken Max to was small, with just a single bed pushed against the crystal panes. The lights emanating from the edges of the panes was kept low. Max was laying on the bed, looking pale and small. His chest was rising and falling a little too rapidly, his eyes moving quickly under their lids. Carefully, so as not to disturb the light sleep the healers had coaxed him into, Alec let his finger brush softly through his brothers hair. The Shegr had burned it's way deep into Max' shoulder. The healers had managed to stop it, but they still didn't know if Max would have full use of his arm. Time would tell. For now, Alec was just happy that Max was no longer screaming in pain.

"Lady Marklund and Clary will be leaving tomorrow." Maryse had entered her son's room without Alec really noticing. She, too, stood next to Max' bed, but her eyes, hard and calculating, were aimed at Alec. "I think we both now how urgent your proposal has become. I trust you wont fail us in this." Alec fought to not let it show how her words cut him, but he knew his jaw tensed as he bit his teeth together. He kept his eyes on Max for a moment before he felt able to respond.

"I will do my best." Maryse sharp eyes followed him as he left the room.

(***)

The necklaces made a tinkling sound as Clary let her hand run over them. Alec smiled and thanked yet another person expressing their condolences with Max. Maybe bringing Clary to the market hadn't been the best idea, but she had mentioned wanting a few things for her sisters. So here they were, browsing jewelry stands, while practically everyone they met bowed and asked about the young lord's health.

"How about this one?" She picked up a slim chain with little blue stones woven into it and held it out for Alec to see. He stepped closer, inspecting it dutifully.

"It's nice," he said. Clary held it up in the light of the pillars, and then apparently decided against it, because she placed it back in its tray. Alec folded one hand around the wrist of the other behind his back as he followed her to the next stand. "Perhaps," he could feel his heart speed up and his stomach roll, "You could pick something out for yourself as well. As a token. From me." She looked over at him, slowly putting down the scarf she had been inspecting. She didn't say anything, but it was clear in her eyes that she knew where he was headed. "Something to remember Tuin Éstti, and me, by. Though, I hope you will be able to return soon. Perhaps even as Lady Lightwood?" He hopped the waver in his voice sounded more like nerves than nausea. Maybe it didn't, though. Her face didn't light up, and there were no sign of tears. Rather, there was a determined look in her eyes as she turned to face him.

"Alec, I think you know that that won't be happening," she said, honesty all over her face.

"Oh," Alec hated the spark of relief that ran through him at those words. "I thought. You coming here. Our families. The alliance." He stumbled over the words, and hated it.

"My father wont back out of the alliance. Especially now, with the attack on Max and you. He wants his children to find happiness. We wont have that. I mean, you don't even like me." she made it sound so simple, so normal.

"I do." Alec felt like he should at least be able to say that he tried when his mother disowned him later.

"No, Alec, you don't. Not like you like that rider, Magnus, is it?" She smiled almost pityingly at him.

"I. He's a rider." Alec said as if that explained how wrong she was.

"So? You're clearly in love with him. I saw the way you danced with him in Farseya, and the way you hugged him today. If he makes you happy, why not be with him?" Once again there was nativity in her words and in the roundness of her green eyes.

"Because I'm the eldest son of a lord," Alec said, simply. It felt like an indisputable fact that his duties as a lord came before all else. Even his own marital felicity. He had never expected to marry out of love, and had made peace with that fact a long time ago.

"Lords need to be happy, if they want to be good lords." it slipped from Clary's lips like a theorem. Alec only looked at her, not knowing what to make of her rose-tinted worldview. "Besides, I am already to be married. To your brother, Jace."

"What?" Alec felt as if someone had just turned of all of his emotions, so that all that was left was disbelieved shock.

"So you see, there's really no point in arguing about it." Clary had turned to pick up the scarf again, taking in the stitching of it, and completely ignoring the stunned stare Alec aimed at her back.

"Excuse me, my lord." Alec was pulled back to reality by the soft touch to his arm. A young girl in the green colours of a Scholar Novice was looking up at him with round dark-brown eyes. "Will you please give these to Lord Max? And let him know we are many who think of him and wish him a good recovery." she held out a little cluster of purple and green flowers. Alec smiled at her, taking the flowers from her.

"Thank you. I will tell him." He said, and she bowed in thanks, hurrying over to a little cluster of girls standing close by. The encounter reminded Alec of where he was, and, with a flush of embarrassment, how many people had probably overheard his conversation with Clary. He quickly looked around, but all he saw were downturned eyes and bows.

"I think I will take this." Clary decided, handing over the scarf to the girl tending the stall. Alec noticed the way she avoided looking at either of them as she thanked them for their purchase. With a sigh he followed an indifferent Clary through the market.

(***)

Jace was in his room. He looked up from a tablet of blackrock he had been reading on when Alec barged in.

"Is Max okay?" He was halfway of the bed in a flash, concern spreading to his golden eyes.

"He's fine. Still sleeping." Alec quickly assured, then walked over to the crystal panes, looking out at the fortress spreading out around him. The Lightwood sector lay at the lower levels underneath the North tower. From Jace's room Alec could see people wandering around the Hall. "You're getting married?" He asked turning to look at his foster brother. Jace was the youngest son of a lower lord of Ulonia, lord Herondale. The Lightwoods had adopted him when he was ten to strengthen their own house. Jace only rarely saw his family, and was in all but blood, Alec's brother.

"She told you," something strange was happening to Jace's face as it tried to settle on an emotion to portray. He sank down onto his bed, eyes turned to his hands.

"She did." Alec said, shortly. He had left Clary at the earliest opportunity, and had only postponed his hunt for Jace long enough to drop of the flowers at Max' room. He still wasn't sure what to make of Clary's revelation, had probably not fully believed it before Jace confirmed it. "Jace, what do you think you're doing? What am I going to say to mother?"

"She wasn't going to marry you, Alec. She never liked you well enough for that. This was all our mothers' making." Jace looked up at him, clearly willing him to understand. Alec folded his arms over his chest, looking out over the Hall again. It wasn't as if he had wanted to marry Clary, either. He'd thought he hadn't had a choice. "This is better. This way our houses will still be tied together." Jace got up from the bed to join him by the crystal panes.

"I doubt mother will see it like that. She already think I've failed Max. Now she'll think I've failed the family, the alliance. Do you even like her?" He turned to see the way Jace bit back a small smile.

"I think she could make me happy," he said, uncharacteristically quietly. Alec shook his head. "You didn't fail Max. You saved him." Jace reached over to squeeze Alec's arm. In response Alec send him a glare from the corner of his eyes. Jace sighed, turning back to stare out at the fortress. "It'll be okay. Clary says the Alliance is safe. Isn't that what this is all about?"

"I don't know," Alec let the words out on a long sigh. "But let's just get this over with." He turned to leave the room.

That night the Lightwoods had a farewell dinner with the Marklund ladies. From the start, it was an awkward affair. No one seemed interested in being there, and there were glances thrown to all sides. Clary was seated next to Alec, and spent the entire first course not so subtly steeling glances at Jace opposite them. Maryse was trying to catch Alec's eyes, and he had a hard time avoiding her. Izzy's eyes were red-rimmed, and she only poked at her food. Robert was staring out of the window, clearly not noticing anything happening in the room he was in. Through it all Lady Marklund made small talk - enquiring about Max, and remarking on how lovely the stay had been up until this point, and what a pity it was that they had to leave so suddenly.

"So, lady Clary." Maryse started, when the main course had been served. "How have you liked you stay here? I hope you have felt somewhat at home? My son has helped you settle in?" Alec caught the panicked stare Jace aimed his way, but refused to return it.

"I have liked it very much. Your sons have been very helpful." Clary replied with a soft smile. Maryse obviously liked that answer, smiling kindly at Clary.

"And can we hope to see you again, soon?" She asked. Alec noticed the way Clary looked uncertainly between him and Jace.

"Mom, there's a war on the way. The roads wont be safe." Alec commented, forcing calm into his voice as he took a sip of his wine. Maryse send him a confused look that turned steely.

"The war is not here yet," Lady Marklund cut in. "Clary already looks forward to her return to lord Jace."

"Lord Jace?!" Maryse eyes flashed to Alec, who was busy refilling his glass.

"Yes? They are to be married, as I have understood it?" Lady Marklund looked to her daughter for confirmation, and got it in a form of a short nod. Maryse was entirely silent for a moment.

"It was my understanding," she said then, in a carefully measured tone of voice, "That she was supposed to marry Alec. My son."

"That was an option, sure. But she has chosen Lord Jace, instead." Lady Marklund's voice was calm and steady. Everyone besides the mothers were quiet, all eyes turned to the food on their plates. Alec could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He knew his mother was staring at him, could almost feel the burning anger rolling of her in waves.

"Is that so. There was a choice?" Lady Marklund must have heard the danger in Maryse voice, because she carefully laid her cutlery on the table, folding her hands in a picture of serenity.

"I have always taught my children to trust in their hearts." She said.

"Hm. I have taught mine the virtue of duty and responsibility." There was a challenge in the words and in their pointed delivery. The mothers were starring at each other, eyes flashing.

"Lady Lightwood, I'm confused. Has my daughter offended you in some way? She is marrying one of your son's is she not?" Lady Marklund responded to Maryse's challenge with a warning of her own.

"Of cause not. We are very happy with her present union with our foster son. I'm sure they will fill each others hearts." The tone of voice didn't match the words. Lady Marklund simply raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her wine.

"As are we." She said, placing the glass back on the table. The dinner continued in tense silence. No-one really dared to say anything, and Alec, for one, kept his eyes on his food. The hesitant knock on the door rang through the room like thunder, making everyone startle. The Keeper of the Castle in his long crimson coat stepped into the room, bowing deeply.

"Lords. Ladies." he said, ignoring the tension of the room. "Forgive the intrusion. The people of Tuin Éstti have gathered in the Hall. They wish to extend their thoughts and well-wishes to young Lord Max. They would be honoured if you would join them for the Song of Hope."

"Of course." Maryse smiled a tight smile at the Keeper. "Fell free to join us, Lady Marklund, lady Clary." They all stood, moving to the door. After a hesitant moment, Clary moved to stand by Jace's side. Robert offered Lady Marklund his arms, and Maryse joined Alec with controlled indifference on her face.

The castle was quiet, the hallways empty, as their little entourage made their way towards the Hall. Alec walked in silence, waiting for whatever his mother had to say to him. "I thought I had made myself clear." His mother's voice was cold and sharp when it broke the silence between them. "If it hadn't been for your brother, your alliance would have fallen." they were walking behind Robert and Lady Marklund, and Alec kept his eyes on his father's straight back.

"I will remember to thank him." he replied, shortly. The defiance of the words surprised even him.

"I don't think you understand the seriousness of the situation, Alec." Her voice was bitting and her grip on his arm tight.

"Oh, I understand. There's a war on our doorstep. There are more important things than weddings to prepare for." Alec matched the chill in his mothers voice, still refusing to look at her despite the now bruising hand on his arm.

"Max would hate to miss this," Izzy had come up to walk next to them. She send the both of them a sharp look, a warning. "Do you think he'd be able to be there? It would be good for the people to see him."

"I'll go get him." Alec tore himself free of his mother's grip, running past his father and Lady Marklund headed for the medical sector.

Max was sitting up in bed, when Alec entered. He was looking down into the Hall with a soft look on his face that made him look even younger than he was.

"The Song of Hope?" He said, turning to send Alec a wide-eyed look. Alec nodded, taking place next to Max on the bed. The Hall below them was filled with people, the professions mixing in a sea of colour as families found each other, sharing hugs and caresses. "For me?" Max asked, eyes on the thousands of faces turned towards the medical sector.

"For you." Alec said, letting a hand land on Max thin shoulder. "And for all of us. I think we all need a bit of hope right now." He felt the truth of his own words roll through him, as he spotted Rider Magnus enter the Hall. He was taking position, standing alone a little ways from the crowds, arms folded behind as he watched over the people of Tuin Èstti.

"Can I go?" Max' voice was thin, but even so, filled with determination and strength. It wasn't a question. Not really. So Alec simply nodded, getting of the bed, to help his brother into a standing position.

A low buzz hang in the air when Alec helped Max into the Hall. They entered through a small doorway hidden in shadows, an no one spotted them at first. Alec managed to send a signal to Magnus, who was still standing guard apart from the crowd, and the rider quickly came to support a weak-legged Max. Alec send him a thankful smile as they started to make their way towards the front of the crowd where the rest of the Lightwood family was waiting for them. The rush that went through the crowd when they saw Max sounded like wind singing in the straws of the fields around Tuin Éstti. Max did his best to smile and wave at the crowd, and Alec could feel tremors running through his brothers body from the effort. They were met by tight smiles, and soft touches when they reached their family. Alec took position next to his father, letting max rest against his side in between them. Magnus bowed to the family, turning his back to retreat. Before he could, Alec quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him from leaving. The rider turned to send him a confused look, which Alec met with determination. Clary's words from earlier that day echoed through his head as he met gold green eyes. A good lord is a happy lord. Ashlon needed a good lord, now more so than they had in a long time.

"Stay," he mouthed at Magnus, nodding to the empty space next to him. Soft confusion filled Magnus' eyes, but he did as Alec asked. Alec ignored the looks of everyone around him, carefully interlacing his fingers with Magnus'.

The song of Hope was an old tradition. It was sung in times of strife and hardship, to remind those who heard it that light would come again, if only one didn't give up on it. It's tones were haunting and beautiful, rising and falling with its hope-filled words. It rang through the Hall now, on the signal of the Keeper of the Castle. Loud and clear, it filled the fortress with the sound of its people. Max was leaning against, Alec, heavily, and Alec heard the small sniffles coming from his brother. Magnus hand squeezed his own softly, as his clear voice joined all the others. Alec smiled slightly, his own voice faltering over the words. He turned his head to watch the carefully masked joy on Magnus' face. The rider turned to smile at him, and Alec lent in to press a soft, careful kiss to his lips. Magnus raised an eyebrow at him, shook his head in wonder, then faced forward again. Alec smiled, and did the same. The sound swelled around him, seeping in to his bones. Filling him with hope for the future.

AN: Thank you for reading. I really hope you enjoyed it! If you have any questions or comments feel free to reach out to me either here or on tumblr under the same pen-name. I hope you all have wonderful days where ever you are!