Chapter 19

It had been nearly three months and summer was fast approaching and there still wasn't any word of Jace. Alec Lightwood had ridden out to the Morgenstern's estate after Jace as soon as the battle was over and had found Sebastian unconscious, bleeding, and tied up, but no sign of Jace. Sebastian's wounds were taken care of and he was now securely imprisoned in the Silent City in a very secluded area that very few people knew the location of. Clary had visited him once, while he was still unconscious and hadn't seen him since. See didn't want to. All Clary wanted was to forget the several months and everything that he had tainted.

Clary was sitting in the garden with an open book sitting at her side. Her right hand was wrapped firmly around the ring that was usually nestled against her neck right above her collarbones. She heard a shuffling of feet and turned her head to the left.

"I thought I would find you here." Luke smiled down at her and he joined her on the newly green grass.

"Luke." Clary smiled a little and hugged the man that was like a second father to her. "I thought you weren't coming for another couple of weeks."

"Yes, well, I wrapped things on my end sooner than I thought and decided it wouldn't hurt to come out here early." Luke replied. Clary hadn't seen him since they had imprisoned Sebastian. After the war, many of the higher ups had had to go to Alicante and take care of business, which is where Luke had been for the past three months. Clary's father had been coming and going, but Luke had not had the luxury of coming for a visit until his work was done.

"It's good to see you." Clary's smile was forced this time as she thought back to how Luke had said he would help try to find Jace when Clary's father hadn't deemed it of the top priority. She turned her attention back up to the sky, where she had been staring only moments ago before Luke had interrupted her thoughts.

"He's fine you know," Luke said softly and Clary turned her head back to him. "Jace is fine, we would know if he wasn't."

Luke was referring to Jace's parabatai bond with Alec and how, while Alec couldn't fine him, knew that Jace was alive and well. The rune was still black and the bond was still intact. But that knowledge didn't seem to help calm Clary, some days it almost made it worse.

"I know, but it doesn't help." Clary answered. "I just, I wish I knew where he was. Why he hasn't come back."

Luke put an arm around Clary and pulled her into his side. Clary immediately through her arms around him and dug her head into his chest. She didn't cry because she had no more tears to cry, but she did breath in the sent that was Luke and found comfort in it.

"I don't know what the boy is thinking, but I'm sure he has a reason for staying away for as long as he has."

"Or he's changed his mind."

"I may not know the boy well, Clary, but I did have the chance to talk to him a few times in camp. The most important thing to him in this world is you and he would never let you go." Luke said kindly, talking into her hair.

"Do you like him?" Clary asked suddenly, abruptly realizing that it meant a lot to her of what Luke's opinion was of him.

"Yes, I like him. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't hurt him if he hurt you, but he is a good young man and I think he will one day be a very good leader."

Clary was relieved. It was one thing that Valentine didn't like Jace, but it was a completely different thing if Luke didn't like him as well. She could manage one father figure disliking the man she loved, but not both of them.

"I'm glad." Clary looked up at him.

"Now," Luke said, pulling away a little, "how about we go for a ride?"

The smile that graced Clary's face was a genuine one this time. "I'd like nothing more."

Luke nodded and helped Clary up. The two of them proceeded to the stables where they picked their usual horses and rode the property for the rest of the day. Luke stayed for about a week before he had to go back to the Glass City and they had been able to go out on rides every day. After he left Clary made a visit to her friend Simon for a few days and then went to see Isabelle Lightwood. While the two girls had never been the best of friends, they had recently started to become better acquainted with each other and often visited the other. The youngest Lightwood, Max, seemed to have a crush on Clary and Isabelle would use it against the boy every time he was around, causing him to blush slightly.

After about another month Clary caught herself zoning off into her mirror again, clutching the ring in her hand. Clary found herself reaching for the ring around her neck a lot lately and realized it had become an unconscious habit of hers anytime she needed some strength or was in an uncomfortable situation or even when she was just thinking about its owner. Shaking her head a little, Clary stood up and crossed her room to the shelf that held all of her books and a few other knickknacks, including a box that held every letter she had ever received from Jace. Carefully, Clary lifted it from its resting spot and brought it back to her onto the balcony, where she sat down and gently opened the lid. She then proceeded to go through every one of them, word by word, page by page.

Clary was starting to lose hope. She was losing hope of her future with Jace, of ever being married to him, of being able to be held in his arms again, and most importantly, Clary was starting to lose hope that she would ever see him again. She tried to rationalize what Luke and Isabelle kept telling her, that Jace had a reason for staying away and that he would return to her when he was able to, but Clary couldn't let go of the thought that maybe he didn't want to return. It had been months and Jace hadn't even sent her a letter. Not a single word! He was out doing the angel knows what and she was left wondering if he truly was okay and if she would ever get to see him again. Or more importantly, if he had changed his mind and just wasn't man enough to tell her.

Shutting the box, Clary got up and put it back. She then grabbed her riding gloves and left her room. Tired of the thoughts that wouldn't leave her head no matter how long she painted or read, Clary decided she would go for a ride. It seemed like the only thing that would quiet her mind. Clary only returned home when she noticed the sun was going to be setting soon. Once her horse was stabled, Clary made her way back to the house slowly, enjoying the warmth of the sun. It wouldn't be long until her next birthday. Clary smiled for a second at the thought of the ball that her parents would put on for her and the fun she would have with her friends, but the smile slipped from her face with the thought of how her father would probably turn it into a matchmaking opportunity. When Clary entered the house her mother called out to her, but Clary told her she was tired and wasn't feeling up to supper and made her way back to her room.

Collapsing onto her bed, Clary stared at the ceiling until she decided to do something slightly more productive and finish the book she had been reading. Pushing herself off the bed, she made her way to her desk. A couple feet away, she stopped. Clary's breath caught in her chest and her heart started to pound faster. There, beside her book, was a ring that Clary hadn't seen in months.

Without a second thought, Clary rushed out of her room, down the stairs, and out to the garden. She was out of breath she reached a spot in the garden she hadn't had the heart to visit for over half a year. Coming to a halt, she just stared. There, standing with his back to her by the fountain. The setting sun shone one his blond hair, making it look even more golden than normal.

"Jace." Clary was barely able to get his name past her lips. His head popped up and he turned around at the sound of her voice. Clary took a tentative step towards him, her hand going up to grab his ring without really thinking about it.

"Clary," Jace said, his voice coming out breathless. Clary's breath caught at the sound of her name leaving her lips and almost as soon as it had left his lips he was standing in front of her.

"Jace," Clary said again and threw her arms around his neck. Jace hugged her tightly back and after what felt like forever and yet not long enough, Jace pulled back.

"Where have you been? I've been so worried, I wasn't sure you were going to come back and I didn't know where you were. You didn't even write to me. Why didn't you write to me?" The words poured out of Clary's mouth in a rush.

"Clary," Jace said, calming her a little, and causing her to stop talking. Jace reached into his pocket, but Clary didn't see what he had grabbed. "I talked to your father before the final battle."

Clary's heart stilled in her chest and she grabbed the ring once more.

"What did he say?" Clary was almost too afraid to ask.

"It doesn't matter what he said," Jace started and Clary started to feel the ache in her chest at the idea of having to go behind her father's back. "All that's matters is what you say." Jace answered as he got down on one knee.

Clary brought both of her hands up to her mouth and stared wide eyed.

"Will you become my wife, Clarissa Morgenstern?" Jace asked, offering her a ring.

"My father. . ." Clary started to ask.

"Said yes," Jace interrupted. "Now, what about you?"

"Yes." Clary said, falling on her knees and wrapping her arms around Jace once more. "All I have ever wanted it to be by you side."

Jace kissed her lightly on the lips and placed the ring on her finger.