Sorry this is a week late, but I should be back on track now. I also think I'm only a few chapters away from the end! I hope you enjoy it.

War March

"Look at those fools," Clary said bitterly, looking down on the scene before her from her bedroom window vantage point. There were hundreds of men streaming up toward the castle gates, coming to pledge themselves to Jonathan's cause, and none of them seemed to realize how pointless it all was.

How can they possibly think Jonathan wants an army of humans? He's going to war against shadowhunters. Shadowhunters! Humans can't fight my people, and they know that. Don't they see what he's doing? Clary's nails were digging into her palms painfully as she saw a young man no older than Jace stepping up to sign his family name on a list. If we don't stop this, they're going to die.

"My lady, come away from the window, it won't suit your temperament any and Jonathan wants you to dine with him." Aline peeked over Clary's shoulder, down on the men in the courtyard, and then drew back with a small gasp. "It's so many, my lady."

Clary smiled without humor and turned to look at Aline. She was dressed in a simple work gown with a wide, swooping neckline. Her hair had been brushed to a shine and pulled back into a gleaming knot at the back of her neck. Her face was freshly washed and her eyes were bright. She seemed much more awake, much more alive, much more willing to join their fight. Since she had revealed her own secret knowledge of Lilith and the religious following, it was like a great weight was lifted off Aline's shoulders. She reveled in Clary and Jace's protection, and seemed almost fearless.

"Yes, Jonathan's reach is far," Clary said absently. "We'll have to work quick if we want to save their lives. Have the priestesses been recruiting more women and girls to their following?"

"Yes," said Aline with a small frown. "They told us that soon they would begin pairing us up with the new recruits so that we could help them transition into the order."

"And will you have a partner?" Clary asked, still watching the men below.

"I believe so," she said uncertainly. "I am worried, my lady. The high ranking priestesses keep having counsels, and there are rumors that they wish to find a surrogate mother for the Great Goddess."

"Surrogate mother?" Clary whipped around, her eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"That's what worries me," said Aline nervously. "They keep saying that they will raise the Great Mother; that she will be with us when we go to battle against the shadowhunters. I think they are trying to find a woman who will serve as a host."

Almost at once, Clary thought of Jonathan's words: I am sure I could have you promoted to be High Priestess. She cringed away from the thought, but a small voice in the back of her mind warned her that he was liable to do anything, especially when the demoness was in control of him.

But, if Lilith is possessing a woman's body, then she will leave Jonathan's. It was a small light of hope in the impenetrable darkness, but Clary also thought Lilith wasn't going to let Jonathan go without a fight. But she won't have me either.

"Have they actually said that?" Far below, a man lifted his fist to the crowd victoriously and the others cheered him; Clary turned away, unable to bear it anymore, and went to sit at the small table in Jonathan's room. "It is possible that this is just rumors and whispers among the following?"

"Maybe," said Aline thoughtfully, joining Clary at the table, "but everyone knows it and the leaders of our order will not answer questions about it. It seems to me to be very serious."

Clary worried her lip. "Perhaps I can glean some secrets from Jonathan today."

"We should get you ready for lunch, my lady." Aline eyed her closely.

"I am ready for lunch," Clary sighed. "It's just those boys who keep me waiting."

"Where is Jace?" asked Aline suddenly.

"He's with Jonathan," Clary said darkly. She hadn't been too pleased when Jonathan had burst into the room, announcing that he wanted Jace to go out riding with him. Jace had grumbled and curled up into a tighter ball on the floor beside Clary, but Jonathan had kicked him and told him to get up before he dragged him out by the hair on his head. "They've been gone awhile."

I swear on the Angel, if he's hurt Jace I'll-

"Clary?" It was Jace, and at the sound of his voice, Clary jumped to her feet, relieved. She meant to run to him, but the chain that was currently looped around her ankle pulled her up short of the small sitting area around the hearth.

"Jace," Clary said when he entered the room. He looked like he'd just spent the morning in the sun riding. His hair was messy, his face dirt flecked, and his palms red from holding the reins. When he saw her, he stormed over, looking furious. "Jace, what is it?"

"Jonathan is unbearable," he hissed, and then cupped her face in his hands and kissed her passionately. "I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to suffer his company. It's only been two weeks but I feel like I've been banging my head against a wall for two years."

"What's he's done?" Clary asked a little breathlessly.

Jace shook his head. "He wanted to go hunting in his park, so he and I went out with that dog of his. We found a stag not ten minutes in, and Jonathan let the dog chase it down. It cornered the poor beast in a ravine, and by the time we got there, it was nipping at its hooves. I offered to shoot it down, but Jonathan took the bow and told me to let the dog wear it down. The dog took an hour tearing it apart, and it was still alive!" Jace's hands were clamped into fists. "It was alive, Clary, but Jonathan wouldn't call off his hound. It kept pulling pieces off its body, tearing at it, but never letting it die…"

"It was cruel," said Clary, and she waved at Aline to fetch a glass of water while she drew Jace aside to a couch. Aline hurried over with the drink and Jace took it, downing half the glass in one long gulp. "It's the demon, Jace. It hasn't had any proper sport since we made our deal with Jonathan, so it's looking for other ways to satisfy its bloodlust. It'll be over soon, he'll be marching to war so soon now."

Jace placed the glass down and wiped his mouth. "You saw those men in the courtyard?"

"He'll have his army soon."

"Don't know what he needs those men for," Jace muttered, leaning back now and looking contemplative. "Unless he's looking for food to keep his real army going. I saw the women were coming forward too, looking to join Lilith's following."

"Oh!" Clary said quickly. "Jace, Aline said that Lilith might be looking for a host body she can possess. Has Jonathan made any mention of Lilith actually joining him?"

"No," said Jace darkly. "No, he keeps making little hunts though that his mother is close at hand. It's possible he's looking for a host for Lilith. It that's the case, we'll have an even bigger problem than before; she'll still have Jonathan in her power, but she'll be autonomous in her own right."

"I was going to try and ask after it today with Jonathan when we all dine together. Do you think he's in a good enough disposition?" Clary asked.

Jace shrugged. "Well, the demon is certainly pleased, but Jonathan might sense what you're after. He still doesn't trust us."

Clary sat back, looking at her hand, now entwined in Jace's. "The war begins in two weeks time. Lilith is searching for a host all her own. Jonathan is still in her power. Something has to happen, Jace, and we'll going to have to do it. The way it is now, the shadowhunters will stand no chance of victory."

"I don't know if our current friendship is enough to help Jonathan. I don't think we've broken Lilith's grip on him." Jace glanced at Clary. "The only time we've ever gotten a glimpse of him was when you challenged the demon directly. When you told Jonathan you loved him."

"I could try that again," Clary mused. "It's risky, though. Lilith is just as likely to attack me as Jonathan is to speak with me."

"We'll have to do something before Jonathan sets out." Jace rubbed his face. "Anything to weaken his resolve."

Clary was quiet a long time, looking out the window at the dark sky. "Jace, do you think Jonathan will have to die?"

Jace took a long draw on his glass of water while he thought. He knew how determined Clary was to saving her brother from Lilith, but every day they spent with him was every day he saw just how far gone he was. I love you, Clary, I love you so much, and I don't want to see your heart broken again, but I don't know if there's anything left to save. Still, the memory of those tears Jace saw streaking Jonathan's face while he screamed for his sister suggested Jonathan was still there.

"I don't know, Clary. He seems so far away from us, and he doesn't even want to come back." He saw her eyes darken and felt a small twinge of grief that might have been his own or Clary's. "But, I know you. I know you're set on freeing him, and I trust you far more than I trust Lilith's power or the armies of the Clave, or the power of the Angel. I trust that you're going to do whatever it takes to get your brother back, but I don't know if it is going to cost him his life."

Clary looked away as if the idea bothered her, but then brushed the creases out of her dress and gave herself a little shake. "Well, I shan't think on it."

Jace watched Clary while she brushed her dress down, and he felt that usual sense of affection and desperate longing he always got when he saw her. "I want you to be careful when you're with him, Clary. He can be temperamental."

Clary smirked a little. "I've heard."

Jonathan entered then, strolling into the room as if he'd just come from a victorious battle field. His eyes were light and bright, his smile like a razor, and his manner open and charming. When he saw Clary and Jace nestled on the couch together, his grin widened and he snapped his fingers at them.

"How now, little Herondales?"

"Clary was just fetching me a bit of water," Jace said in an offhand way, showing the glass as evidence that it was all they had been doing. Jonathan looked from the glass to Clary, and Jace said, "She wondered why I was in such a right state, was all."

"Jace was most certainly in a foul way after our hunt," Jonathan agreed, and he took the seat opposite Clary and Jace. "It was like he'd never tracked a stag before."

"Not much reason to hunt when you're training to be a shadowhunter," Jace said crossly.

"Excuses," Jonathan teased, but Clary was relieved to see how good a mood he was in. "I hope I haven't upset your appetite much."

Clary took the chance to move quickly. "When will we be eating? I've been bored all morning, sitting here and watching the men sign up to join your army."

"It has been rather successful, hasn't it?" Jonathan asked, pleased.

"You've definitely been drawing the people to you," Clary observed. "You have a certain magnetism about yourself."

Jonathan laughed. "People trust me."

"Do they?" Clary asked, wearing the same smile Jonathan always wore. She saw him watching her closely, and looked away uncomfortable. "Come, let's eat something."

Jonathan raised one eyebrow, his look both mocking and curious, but he left the room a moment to order a servant to bring up their lunch. Jace was standing by Clary, who was now by the hearth, watching the flames leap dully; Clary glanced outside, saw how dark it was that day, and tossed another log into the fire. It crackled and popped and silenced the sound the iron manacle made as Jonathan opened it and gestured for Jace to join him.

"Come now, you must trust me, brother?" Jace asked with his usual, charming smile, but he knew it was pointless. Jace held out his wrist, Jonathan studied it a moment, and then snapped the manacle around it.

"Not as far as I can throw you, though, admittedly, that is rather far," Jonathan said coolly. "Take a seat, you two, we have so much to discuss."

Clary blinked at him and hummed sardonically, though this was exactly what she hoped Jonathan would do. "I can only imagine what we have to speak of."

"Well, since you two have now joined my cause, your futures are tied to my victory." Jonathan took and seat and watched while the other two sat cautiously. "If I fail, you two must realize that the shadowhunters aren't going to forgive you. You have betrayed the Angel by joining me."

"I care little for the Angel," Clary sniffed, "only for my friends, and they will forgive me no matter what I do."

Jonathan's gaze narrowed and Clary could tell he was wondering what it was like to have people who cared so implicitly for you. "They won't protect you from the wrath of the Clave."

"If you speak the truth of Valentine and his experiments," Jace reasoned, "the Clave will want us no matter what we've done."

"Good thing I found you two first then, eh?" Jonathan chuckled to himself as Aline entered with a bottle of wine and three glasses. She poured each of them a healthy portion of red wine and then hurried back to the kitchen for food. Aline was still very uncomfortable around Jonathan. "So, as Clary said, our army grows every day."

"I've noticed many men," said Clary absently, "but I've seen many women about the castle too. Women who are not ladies of the court."

Jonathan tasted his wine and smiled at the drink like it were a good friend. "Yes, well, their husbands are joining our cause, they too want to show their support."

"How?" Clary asked, intrigued.

"Some of them have taken to sewing shirts, others to collecting and canning food for the men, others too have decided that they will join the following the Great Goddess."

Clary hid her interest behind a glass of wine she sipped. "Why does your mother need more followers? Does she not receive enough infants and mothers from the poor and the weak? Why does she take from the city?"

"The Great Mother wants all women," Jonathan said in a strange, empty voice.

"Even me?" asked Clary swiftly, staring long and hard at Jonathan.

Jonathan tilted his head to one side, his eyes looking blacker than usual. Clary saw his teeth grind together quickly and she thought Lilith was trying to reach out of Jonathan like before and attack her. After a long moment, he blinked and smiled; the muscle stopped twitching and his eyes lost their dark gleam.

"You are my sister," Jonathan said as this if it explained everything. "The Great Goddess is my mother, and as she protects me she will protect you."

Clary shot Jace a look and he urged her with an almost imperceptible nod. "I'm afraid of your mother, Jonathan."

"You shouldn't be," Jonathan said quickly. "She wants to help you be free, just as she helped me. All you must do is trust her."

"But I already have a mother," Clary pointed out carefully.

"Jocelyn abandoned us long ago," Jonathan said with a note of bitterness. "But my mother will take us under her wing; she will guide us. Even though your refuse her now, she will forgive you your youthful rebellion."

"I don't want her to hurt me and Jace, and we are children of the Angel," Clary said with more meaning.

"You are my sister, Clary, and I don't want you hurt by anyone." Jonathan looked tired, as if he'd had this conversation a hundred times. "I will certainly protect you."

"Can you protect me from your mother?" Clary asked sharply. "If she wanted to hurt me, would you be able to stop her?"

Jonathan gave her that long, curious look again. "Of course I could stop her. I was the one who called her forth, and so she is at my will."

This was an interesting fact, and both Jace and Clary leaned closer. "You summoned the Great Goddess?" Jace asked.

"Who else would have?" Jonathan sneered. "Who else could have? I alone have the ability to summon forth such mighty creatures as she. I alone have the strength of will to control such creatures."

"How can you be stronger than her?" asked Clary, leaning much closer than she meant and knocking her wine glass. "If she is your mother-"

"She is only a greater demon," Jonathan shrugged, as if this should be obvious. "I am both greater demon and angel. I will always have dominion over her."

This is why she wants a host, Clary thought with horror. She knows Jonathan can still control her so long as she inhabits his body, so she wants her own. If she leaves him, she'll escape his will and be able to do as she likes.

"I certainly hope you keep it," Clary said softly, and she felt Jace's eyes on her. She quickly sipped her wine and said, "What will we be doing today?"

Jonathan gleamed at her. "We prepare for the march, for I want us to leave for Alicante within the week. I think that perhaps we shall go over some preliminary war plans. We'll go to the library where the maps of Idris are kept. I need to know the lay of the land around Alicante."

Jace leaned back in his seat and said evenly, "I know that I will prove useless in that department. I was taken by the river and was not allowed to show my face until we were in deep woods, and from there, Luke took his wolf form and carried me."

Clary nodded in agreement. "I was led there by-"

"Be quiet," Jonathan snapped as Aline returned with their food. "I should have known you two would prove useless. I suppose you spent your time in Alicante hidden under ground with the rest of the angel scum?"

"Unfortunately," said Jace without a hint of deceit, "Clary and I were deemed too young to take part in any of the battles. We were actually under a form of house arrest; the Clave imposed a curfew on the citizens."

Jonathan stabbed his meat angrily. "Useless, both of you. Fine, Clary, you will join me and play me some music. Jace," he looked unhelpfully at Jace, "you can be my scribe."

"Why do you need music?" Clary asked, anxious to be away from Jonathan and try to work through this latest news about his control over demons. "I'm sure it'll only be a nuisance."

"I want it," Jonathan growled. "You will come and be at my side, sister, and if you refuse me, I will not grant your pathetic little friends clemency after the war."

Clary blanched but Jace spoke over her. "I'm sure Clary understands that and we'll both be glad to oblige you. Why don't we finish our meal and then retire to the library?"

Isabelle, Alec, and Simon stood outside the great doors to the entrance to the Clave. Again, Isabelle found herself studying the images carved into the doors, the avenging Angel and his shadowhunter children rising from the lake, and below them, the awful demons. Their faces were snarling and snapping but they seemed so plainly demon now, as if it were so easy to tell the difference between what was good and what was evil. She thought of all she had recently learned of Jonathan and his tragic past.

Our greatest glory is not in falling, but in rising every time we fall. Isabelle thought of Jonathan being torn from the light by his vengeful father and a vindictive demoness, and how Clary had been determined to save him. Will the Clave forgive him if they manage to save him? Will he be allowed to live?

Does he even deserve it?

Isabelle turned from the door and found herself watching Simon, who was leaning against the opposite wall. He was a vampire, and by Clave law, not human, but she loved him with a burning passion. She thought of her brother too, and his love for Magnus, and she knew that there were many who would not approve of it, but he was no less a man than any other shadowhunter. It seemed to her that they were all falling and their salvation was now at hand.

"How long does it take?" Simon complained loudly, tapping his foot. "The Clave isn't going to debate this, are they? I mean to say, if Jonathan really has Lilith and her armies on his side, the faster we move the better."

"I'm sure it will come as a shock to the Clave when they are faced with the truth." Alec's eyes were in shadowhunter. "Many of them may not want to believe that Lilith has come."

"Well, she has," Isabelle snapped. She had never been one to sit around while there was some action to take. It was frustrating that they were trapped outside while their future was discussed within. "We might as well get our horses and ride out today."

Alec took the measure of Isabelle. "Izzy, you're only seventeen, the Clave isn't going to let you join them."

Her temper flared. "They won't stop me, Alec. I made an oath, and I will hold that oath."

"I'm just saying, you will have to think this through carefully if you want to join us. You will have to be ready for some measure of subterfuge."

Isabelle's eyes moved momentarily to Simon, who looked uncomfortable, but nodded. She had mentioned this to him already, and Simon had agreed that Isabelle might travel with him and the other vampires, who were more than welcome to go to war, regardless of age. Isabelle wasn't going to be left behind if she could help it.

"Don't worry about me, Alec," was all Isabelle said.

"I worry about you night and day, sister," Alec chuckled softly. "Do you think they will announce the truth to the public? Do you think the Clave is going to admit that we are marching to war against Lilith?"

"I doubt it," Simon said darkly. "They don't want to incite a riot, and that's bound to do it. No, they'll keep it nice and quiet and assign a few chosen members of the Clave to find Jonathan and kill him."

"Clary won't let Jonathan die," Simon said, considering. "She's sworn herself to saving him."

"Maybe it will come to his death," Alec mused. "Maybe there is no way to save him now, maybe he's too far gone."

"Let's not think of the future quite yet," suggested Simon, who didn't like the idea of Clary being faced with such a challenge. "We're not doing anything unless the Clave orders an army to march."

"And what can possibly be taking them so much time to make that decision?" Isabelle moaned again, casting an unfriendly glance at the doors once more. "I'm sure they're going to believe Jocelyn, they believe her for everything else."

"This is serious," Alec said, but then fell quiet as the anxious silence consumed them.

The three waited for almost thirty more minutes before they heard the heavy pounding of many feet and a creaking of the great doors announced that the meeting was over. Isabelle jumped to her feet and Simon unattached himself from the wall. There was a rush of warm air as the doors opened and two lines of shadowhunters filed out. Most didn't seem to notice the three teenagers, watching the lines pass by, but as the end drew near, the familiar, though unwanted, figure of Malachi appeared. He was walking slowly, looking concerned, speaking in hushed tones to Jocelyn, Magnus, and Luke. When he saw them standing at attention, he straightened up and gave Jocelyn a shallow bow.

"This is troubling news, indeed, but we're glad you came to us immediately. We must tread carefully now." Isabelle was certain he cast a quick, unfriendly glance their way. "Let us not spread panic to the general masses."

"Of course not," said Jocelyn swiftly, not looking toward Isabelle, Alec, and Simon. "The problem of Lilith will be dealt with between myself, Magnus, and Luke."

"Keep it that way," Malachi warned and then he too left them.

Jocelyn watched them go and then her gaze slid to Isabelle, Alec, and Simon. "Well, it is done."

"The Clave believed you?" Alec asked at once.

"Not at first," Luke said, leading them down the hall after the rest of the Clave. "They thought Magnus and I were trying to supplant Malachi, but Jocelyn gave her word on the Angel that it was the truth, and after a bit of debate, they came around to it."

"And their response to it was?" Isabelle pressed.

"You heard the better part of it, I think, from Malachi just now. Magnus, Jocelyn, and I offered to deal with Jonathan and whatever bond he has forged with Lilith; the rest of the Clave is not going to be told of Lilith, and they will fight Jonathan's army."

"Is that really fair?" Isabelle cut across him quickly. "Not telling them the truth?"

"Will it make any difference?" Jocelyn asked simply. "Whether they know the truth won't affect their chances; if we win, we win, if we lose, we die. Knowing Lilith is there will only incite fear."

"Won't people want to know, though, after…?" Simon wondered.

"It has been decided by the Clave," said Magnus, "that the general public does not need to know that a being such as Lilith can be summoned into this world. It will be better if people don't know that Lilith ever existed."

"Help them sleep at night?" Isabelle asked dryly.

"It's better this way," Magnus shrugged and would say no more on the matter.

Better to hide the truth? Isabelle thought angrily. Better that no one knows just how horrible Valentine was? How horrible a person can be? Indignant, Isabelle spoke no more and took her anger to her sleep that night where she tossed and turned, haunted by nightmares of shadowy figures running away from her, laughing as they escaped her reach.

It was an impressive sight, the hundreds, thousands, of men and women who were marching into battle. Alec was seated on a horse, far above the many foot soldiers, by Magnus's side, and he felt his heart beat a bit faster, falling into rhythm with the beat of the drum. The city was emptying, the people slouching out like a sluggish stream of blood.

The city is dying, Alec thought, chilled. But where will this path take these soldiers? Are they riding to their own demise?

Alec shifted a bit uncomfortably in his saddle, and he thought of his sister, even now hidden in the vampire ranks with Simon. He knew they said they were going to meet each other the night before the battle, he knew he was not going to let her enter the fray alone, but he was still unsettled, and the thought that Isabelle might be one of the many soldiers who lost their lives was like a blow.

I've lost my parents, and, as far as I know, I've lost my friends. I'm not going to lose my sister. Alec cast a glance at Magnus. I won't lose the man I love either.

"Do you think it wise, taking the battle to Jonathan?" Alec asked the warlock quietly. "Won't Jonathan know the lay of his own land better?"

"I certainly hope he does," Magnus chuckled, and then urged his horse forward. They were riding in a small group of men and women from the Clave. These were the leaders of the army who would be planning every movement the soldiers made. "Jonathan thinks he will have to march to meet us, and he will be organizing his forces for a long march and a subversive attack. We will ride out to meet him head on. It should unbalance him a bit."

"How long will it be before we arrive at the city?" Alec wondered.

"Not long, a week probably, if we march hard." Magnus looked thoughtful. "Sooner than we'd like, I'll promise that."

"Not soon enough for Izzy, she was in fit to be on the way. All she thinks of is getting Jace and Clary free of Jonathan." Alec thought of them for a minute and hoped with all his heart they were still alive. "She's in a fever to find them."

"I take it you two are following us when we go after Jonathan and Lilith?" Magnus smirked when Alec blanched. "I knew you were going to follow us, and I'm not going to stop you. I just hope you realize what might be at the end of this road."

"You mean Lilith?"

"I mean Clary and Jace." Magnus looked far away and allowed Alec time to process what he said. "I do not think they're dead, but that doesn't mean they're going to be alright."

"You think Jonathan has tortured them?" Alec shivered as he recalled those black, blank eyes of the demon prince.

"I'm saying that you must be prepared to find them not how you left them."